Garcia to Osmeña: Enforce law equally

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Raymond Garcia is challenging Mayor Tomas Osmeña to enforce the building code without any bias or vested interest.

Last week, the mayor has announced his plan to close down two buildings at the Cebu I.T. Park that are allegedly using their parking lots as call center office.

“If you don’t utilize the building for parking, these people will try to park elsewhere and most probably these people will park on the roads, streets. Once you have all of those parked vehicles on the streets, it will cause congestion,” Garcia said.

He said he will support the mayor’s action to go after violators, but stressed that the mayor should not be selective in implementing the law.

Garcia said he has observed that Osmeña has been “selective” in going after the violators, adding that the mayor has “personal interests” in going after violators.

“There are a lot of buildings nga nag-violate ug parking ordinances. Pareha aning sa ACT near a mall sa N. Bacalso. If he has to go after somebody or enforce the law, dili lang kay mag-amigo-amigo. I challenge the mayor to check ACT if it’s following the ordinance and enforce the law,” Garcia said.

The Asian College of Technology and/or the Asian College of Technology International Education Foundation was founded by South District Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa, who is an ally of Osmeña.

Sought for comment, Abellanosa said he does not have an idea on Garcia’s reason for bringing up the matter only now.

Abellanosa said the ACT Cyber Tower has secured occupancy in 2007. He said his opponents have used the issue against him in the past elections.

“But not even the Rama administration then could act on the allegation because in truth there has never been a parking requirement ordinance violation,” Abellanosa told The FREEMAN.

Osmeña, for his part, said Garcia should be the one to file the case if the latter can prove that there is a violation against a school building.

But the mayor clarified that he will implement the law even to his allies, saying that “there (are) no exemptions.”

“Let him file a case. He’s not worth taking a challenge. Let him file a case and we will respond to it accordingly,” the mayor said.

Garcia said he will be collating documents that will support his claim that the ACT is violating the building code.

On another note, Osmeña said he will be meeting the building owners at the I.T. Park to discuss the parking issues.

“Here’s an interesting development. There are many parking spaces that are not being used. Now, their allegation is that people don’t like to park inside the building,” he said.

The mayor said he will study the circumstances on this which includes knowing the charges for their parking spaces, among others. (FREEMAN)