Capitol impleaded in P4.5B class suit

The Cebu provincial government is impleaded in a class suit to be filed by the Naga City landslide victims.

“Provincial Government of Cebu is impleaded only in order to have a comprehensive determination of the carrying capacity of Cebu island, it having the power over smallscale mining and quarry operations,” read the lawsuit.

Governor Hilario Davide III said he is not yet aware of the specific reasons why the Capitol is impleaded in the complaint.

But the governor assured that the provincial government will answer the complaint once filed.

“We will, if the court would order us to answer, we will answer accordingly,” he told reporters yesterday.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, for her part, said the Capitol has extended its utmost effort to help the landslide victims.

“Naapil ang province because they (victims) want the province to identify the specific agencies (which might be responsible for regulating quarry operations.) Kahibawo ko nga naay role ang province kay ang in-charge sa small scale na mining and quarry,” she said.

In the end, truth and justice will prevail," she added.

“Ang hustisya modagan man, if way labot ang province mabaw-an ra,” she said.

On the other hand, the victims’ families are also set to file the P4.5-billion environmental class suit against

Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC), Apo Cement Corporation, Cemex Holdings Philippines, Inc., Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Central Visayas (MGB7), city government of Naga and Cebu provincial government before the Regional Trial Court in the City of Naga on November 8.

The massive landslide killed at least 78 people and displaced over 7,000 residents on September 20, 2018. Five people, on the other hand, are still marked missing.—