Harassment case filed against Cordova mayor

Sitoy says project is ‘illegal reclamation’

A Cordova-based businessman  accused Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy of harassing him by refusing to receive his real property tax payments since 2010 to block plans for a “bakasi’ sanctuary.

Mario Cabahug, president of Miracle Art Museum in barangay Gabi, Cordova, filed the complaint with the Visayas Ombudsman after the town treasurer again refused his payment for his two properties and instead told him to notify the mayor first.

Cabahug said he got the ire of the mayor after he developed a foreshore property which the mayor insists is  part of a project site of  Cordova’s joint venture with a Korean firm.

Cabahug, who is also  vice president of Happy Mong Kids Park in Mandaue City, said he invested close to P5 million to  put up fences and other facilities  for a planned  sanctuary for “bakasi” or sea eels and had a  permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). He said the improvements were stolen and demolished at dawn by men hired to remove them.

Cordova town contested his foreshore lease agreement.  Sitoy filed a case  in 2009 but the DENR ruled in favor of Cabahug on July 14, 2011.  Sitoy filed a motion for reconsideration but last  Feb. 15,   DENR Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo dismissed it.

Sought for comment, Mayor Sitoy said he has not yet received his copy of the DENR’s latest decision. He said  Cabahug’s project was an illegal reclamation that interfered with  the municipality’s plan to put up a coastal highway.

“Unsa man na sila? Magsabot-sabot ra diay na sila sa DENR og ila? (What are they doing? Are they just going to negotiate with the DENR by themselves?)” Sitoy asked. The mayor said the decision of DENR was unfair, and he is ready to face any case filed against him. He  said  he will appeal the DENR decision in  court.