Radaza, allies sued over garbage
Lapu-lapu City mayor dismisses complaint filed by a businessman as a ‘cheap political trick’
They are accused of allegedly failing to enforce RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 Efrain Pelaez Jr. says respondents displayed a ‘glaring disregard’ of the law
BUSINESSMAN Efrain Pelaez Jr. yesterday sued Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and 29 barangay captains for their alleged failure to implement the solid waste management law.
Pelaez asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to look into the alleged inaction of Radaza and the barangay captains to enforce Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“Almost half a decade, and despite change in administration… nothing has been done to address this gravely alarming situation,” Pelaez said in his complaint.
All the barangay captains implicated in the case are allies of the mayor and her husband, Rep. Arturo Radaza (Cebu, 7th district).
Exception
Basak Barangay Captain Isabelito Darnayla, an opposition leader, was not included in Pelaez’s complaint.
In a statement, Mayor Radaza dismissed the complaint as a “cheap political trick.”
She said the real violator of the waste management act was not even impleaded in the suit.
The mayor said Barangay Basak failed to act on its garbage problem, despite repeated issuance of solid waste citation tickets by the City Hall.
Radaza also said Pelaez used the same issue when ran and lost in the 2010 mayoralty race.
“Today, he is at it again, trying to make solid waste management an issue,” she said.
She said her administration even filed a case against an ally for violating garbage laws.
“The City is at the forefront of implementing solid waste management laws,” the mayor said.
“We have intensified our efforts to educate the public on segregation,” Radaza said.
In the complaint, Pelaez said the respondents displayed a “glaring disregard” of the solid waste management law.
He said the barangay captains have no waste segregation, composting and waste reduction policies in their barangays.
‘Retaliation’
When Pelaez served them the notice to sue two months ago, the businessman said he got the cold shoulder.
The respondents retaliated by citing several violations allegedly committed by the Mactan Marina Mall owned by Pelaez.
Pelaez said City Hall made “dubious” inspections of the stalls operated by his mall’s tenants.
“Some areas open for parking were also declared a no parking zone, hast- ily and without any valid regulation. All these retaliatory moves were resorted to in order to harass the complainant,” the complaint read.
Pelaez said he is not a stranger to the harassment by the City Government.
He said the City ordered his mall closed after he filed graft charges against several city officials over alleged irregular P17-million purchase of computers several years ago.
He pointed out that he filed the complaint as a “concerned citizen” and that he was exercising his “constitutional right to life, health and a clean and healthful environment.”