Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria yesterday stood pat on his decision to oppose the move of some members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod who have gone to court to stop the implementation of the Mandatory Helmet Law starting July 31.
Sagarbarria said it is wrong to sue the government for enforcing what is already a law, and no one can compel him to adopt a strategy that he does not believe in.
But he also said that while he may not agree with the pending legal action, he is looking at other venues to support the move of a large number of his constituents opposing Republic Act 10054, that orders motorcycle riders to use helmets.
He said this amid a growing perception that he had not been sympathetic with the concern of Dumagueteños opposing the law, and had launched a signature campaign in the barangays to ride on the popularity of the issue.
Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova, and councilors Joe Kenneth Arbas, Manuel Arbon, Antonio Remollo and Albert Aquino, have gone to court on behalf of the petitioners against the implementation. A hearing on the injunction petition will be held June 15 before Regional Trial Court Branch 44 Judge Neciforo Enot.
Sagarbarria, meanwhile, said he will hand to Senator Bong Revilla the signatures that he gathered, and promised to ask the help of Sen. Teofisto Guingona III.*JFP
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