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By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter
RODRIGUEZ, Rizal: Municipal town Mayor Pedro
Cuerpo vowed to defy the 60-day suspension order of the Rizal
Provincial Government and report for office even if authorities
would try to prevent him from doing so.
“I still have to be served the legal notice of
my suspension. But even if such notice is sent, I will continue to
report for work,” Cuerpo said in a statement.
Rizal Gov. Casimiro “Jun” Ynares 3rd, acting
on the recommendation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Monday,
suspended Cuerpo days following the complaints filed by the Metro
Manila Development Authority and the garbage haulers servicing the
requirements of Metro Manila.
In a resolution signed by all members, the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan said that they suspended Cuerpo following
his alleged “wanton disregard for competent authority.”
Cuerpo said that he would continue to report for
work and continue serving his constituents until his term expires.
Ynares remained unfazed as he warned Cuerpo that
they might be forced to make him understand his suspension the hard
way.
“I advise that all parties concerned adhere to
the legal processes and ensure that all steps they take are within
the bounds of law. There are legal consequences when illegal means
are resorted to. I advise all concerned that they do not allow the
situation to get to that,” the Rizal governor said in a text
message to the Manila Times.
“Also, we have opened the landfill to MMDA and
municipalities in Rizal just now,” continued Ynares’s message.
“Operations are back to normal. PNP are escorting all trucks
coming in to ensure smooth traffic.”
The preventive suspension order against Cuerpo
was issued on Monday pursuant to the recommendation of Sangguniang
Panlalawigan of Rizal in SP Administrative Case No. 07001 for
alleged violations of Sections 58 and 60 and (e) of Republic Act
7160 or the Local Government Code. The administrative case emanated
from the implementation of a Sangguniang Bayan Kautusan Blgs. 07-12
and 07-13 which imposed the obligation to pay a Development Exaction
Fee to the Municipality of Rodriguez, Rizal on those who will use
the sanitary landfill within the municipality.
A complaint by a certain Renato Rodriguez
alleged that Cuerpo committed a violation of Sections 58 and 60 of
the Local Government Code when he implemented the municipal
ordinances despite the declaration of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
that the same were void for being “ultra vires”.
Cuerpo condemned the 60-day suspension order
“as baseless and bereft of any legal basis at all.”
“It is pure, unadulterated vendetta and sheer,
blatant abuse of power and authority by the Rizal governor and
members of the provincial board,” Cuerpo said.
Cuerpo maintained that he has control of the
landfill that serves majority of Metro Manila’s solid waste
disposal requirements, as upheld by the Interior and Local
Government in an opinion in October last year and then later by the
Office of the President through a ruling issued by Executive
Secretary Eduardo Ermita on November 23.
Cuerpo questioned the preventive suspension
since the investigation had already been completed and the case has
been submitted for resolution. As such, he could no longer influence
the witnesses for or against him.
“The preventive suspension reeks of unabashed
vengeance and abuse of power and authority by those who seek to
control the sanitary landfill that legally and rightfully only the
Municipality of Rodriguez has the full authority and power to
control and regulate,” he said.
Cuerpo said the Palace opinion virtually
rendered illegal the closure order issued by the Rizal Sangguniang
Panlalawigan on the 14-hectare sanitary landfill being operated by
the municipality of Rodriguez.
“The executive department’s opinion also
virtually declared illegal the 19-hectare garbage dumpsite opened by
the Rizal provincial government in partnership with the same
landfill operator in the same area for violating Section 17 of the
Local Government Code,” he said.
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