Man complains against Tuburan town mayor
A businessman from Tuburan town sought the assistance of the Cebu Provincial Police Office after their mayor allegedly threatened him when he fenced the main road leading to Molobolo Spring, one of the tourist destinations in the town.
Allan Servidor said that he had a parking area and cottages for tourists near the spring. But they decided to stop the business and just fence the area which he said is part of their private property.
“Gi-stop namo ang business pagkahibawo nako nga wala mi business permit. Unya di man mi issue-han niya og business permit,” said Servidor.
Servidor said Mayor Aljun Diamante allegedly got angry and demolished the fence saying that the area was a public property.
“Yuta na sa ako’ng father. Kumpleto ta sa papeles. Wa ta’y problema,” said Servidor. Servidor said they are asking P60 for the parking fee, however, the mayor wants them to ask for only P40.
“Siya lagi kuno magbuot sa parking pero naa pa baya ta mga tawo, kuryente, tubig,” said Servidor.
He said the spring is located inside their private property but he does not claim that it is theirs. He said he just fenced the front area.
“Dili ko mamadlong kung moagi sila sa luyo. Pero og moagi sila sa atubangan sa among luna, mobadlong gyud ko,” said Servidor.
The businessman said the mayor instructed police officers in Tuburan to demolish the fence last Thursday morning.
He used his car to block the area but yesterday morning, the policemen again allegedly towed his car and brought it to the municipal hall while his driver was also arrested.
“Obstruction kuno. Ang question karon, unsa’y naka-obstruction ana nga private man na,” said Servidor who added that he also reported to their barangay that he received a death threat from the mayor. He also reported the incident to the police.
“Ako pangutana, unsa man akong sala niya? Kung naa siya’y hidden agenda or what, wa pud ta kahibawo ana,” said Servidor.
CPPO director Noel Gillamac said he will direct the Investigation and Detection Management Branch of the CPPO to conduct an inquiry.
“But as far as Mayor Diamante is concerned, maybe you can look for a lawyer nga ipadangat ang imong complaint,” said Gillamac to Servidor. Gillamac said their office will accommodate Servidor’s complaint and will direct his policemen to get his statement.
“I will assure you nga ang atong kapulisan dili moharass sa imoha,” said Gillamac.
Meanwhile, Diamante said it was Servido who violated the province’s legislation identifying the road right of way to the tourist destination.
He said the Molobolo Spring Resort situated in the property of Servido is owned by the government and is a public resort.
Diamante said that the area that Servido fenced is considered a pathway and has long been the access road going to the resort. He explained that the government has even spent for the construction of the road going to Molobolo Spring.
“Naa ta’y provincial ordinance ana na bisa’g pathway na, di na koralon. Unya padung man na sa resort, di na niya puwede koralon. Pagpahimo nila sa parking area, ila nang gisaradoan ang karaan na agianan which is mao ang right of way,” he said.
He said they have sent Servido two notices for a voluntary demolition of the fence, but the businessmen allegedly disregarded them.
“Wa man niya gi-demolish, so amo na lang gidemolish,” he said.
Diamante also said that Servido may have fenced the area since he was not able to acquire a business permit due to lack of requirements.
“Wa na sila’y BIR. Sila’y magbuot pila ilang kolekta. Giingon dapat unta gane sauna mokolekta sila og minimal. P100 per sakyanan. Worse pa gane mokolekta sila og P50 kada tawo. Di na private ang Molobolo,” he said.
Diamante denied the allegations that he threatened Servido, saying that the other party was the one who threatened him instead.
He then challenged Servido to file a case in court.
“Og magkinaunsa, kun magyabag-yabag na sila, ipapriso namo na sila,” he said.
He told the media to go to Tuburan to take shots of the area around the spring.
Diamante and Servido will meet in a dialogue with the Office of the Ombudsman on April 29.