Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella yesterday told Roy Lopez and his family to sit down and talk with the city officials, and to stop threatening him.

This was after Lopez said he was filing charges against the Mayor and others involved in the reopening of the sanitary landfill in Brgy. Felisa.

Lopez, spokesperson of the Dynasty Agri-Aqua Corp., who was prevented by the police from padlocking the gate of the sanitary landfill on orders of Puentevella, said he will file charges of grave coercion against the mayor, the police and other city officials involved.

The 7-hectare landfill facility, that was padlocked on October 4 by the Lopez family who are demanding payment from the city for the balance of P3.8 million for the purchase of the property, was reopened by Puentevella and other city officials Monday.

Lopez said they are not threatening the Mayor. “Let us just deal with the issue at hand,” he said.

He recalled that the city officials did not even try to inform them before reopening the gate of the facility.

Puentevella claimed that he is close to the Lopez family and he has no personal conflict with them. He said the current problem did not start with his administration and he only inherited it. He said he cannot understand why he is being blamed for the impasse and is now being threatened by one of the Lopezes.

Puentevella also said the Lopez family knows he is not afraid of any threats and the issue on the purchase of the sanitary landfill was already settled and dismissed by the Ombudsman.

“It was dismissed by (Ombudsman) Mark Jalandoni who had already resigned. Since he was not authorized to dismiss the case it was revived by the Lopezes,” Puentevella said.

He also asked the Lopez family how much they have paid in taxes due to the city on their properties.

‘RESPECTABLE, RESPONSIBLE’

Lopez said that, ever since, the mayor knew that their family are respectable and responsible people. But he will not directly answer the question because he believes that, it is an intimidating one from a public official to private citizens, he said.

“We are professional people dealing with the issue of the property sale and we will stick to that. Nothing personal. But if he (mayor) will deviate to another topic such as paying taxes, we believe that is totally uncalled for, below the belt attack that professional people do not use. This is unprofessional and oppressive tyranny from an authoritative person,” Lopez said.

Puentevella, however, said “I pity them. They just stirred a new controversy because the city had not utilized the property where 53 millions of pesos of tax payers money was poured into it for more than five years.”

He said he is now opening the issue on tax payments of the Lopezes because they started it all. And worst, they had even threatened him, he added.

‘COME TO ME’

Puentevella said if he paid the alleged balance of P3.8 million on the purchased property, he will be subject to another Ombudsman case.

The Lopezes have no reason to open the sanitary landfill issue because they, too, will be affected by it, he said.

“I advise them to keep quiet and come to me and find a resolution to the problem”, Puentevella added.

“Who is threatening who? Who sent countless police to our property without even informing us?” Lopez asked.

As for the filing of charges, they are not threatening the mayor but only responding as private citizens who know their rights and will stand on it, he said.

Lopez said they are theaggrievedparty. They are not the ones in power.

UNDERDOGS

“We are the underdog. He (mayor) is the one in authority and has the power to coerce,threatand intimidate private citizens to do his will. We are nothing compared to him. We will never win over the one in City Hall, but we will take our stand for our rights and encourage those who see our point to join us.”

Lopez said they appeal to Puentevella's humanity and conscience to do what is right and fair and be professional in his dealings. And if he invites them for a dialog, they will be open to negotiations.*CGS

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