City execs file charges vs folks for stopping garbage dumping

By Isagani S. Liporada

BAGUIO CITY - Three government officers filed a joint affidavit-complaint Sept. 12 against Barangay Irisan, Asin and Tadiangan folks for allegedly preventing the former from performing official functions at the Irisan dumpsite.

City Environment and Parks Management Office chief Colleen Lacsamana and her staff Jimmy Pugoy and Anthony Saguco in the sworn statement said, on Aug. 18, a city dump truck was on its way to Irisan waste facility when about 20-persons blocked the main gate.

The protesters were allegedly led by Leonardo Taganas, John Siloy, and Amadeo Binwag, all barangay officials from Irisan and Asin, respectively.

The private complainants recalled, on or about 8am to 9:00am of said day, they tried pleading with the protesters to allow the truck to enter the premises.

Instead of hearing their pleas, they were met with resistance as the gate to the facility was chained and padlocked.

“Taganas and Binwag,” they claimed even threatened, “We will bring tribal war in Baguio if the government will open a transfer station here at the lime kiln.”

The closure of the Irisan Dumpsite as a controlled dumping facility currently remains in effect by virtue of an order from mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr.

However, an identified area within the facility was opened “strictly for purposes of a sorting bay for garbage going to the Capas dump facility.”

As a result of the closure, private complainants claimed, “the operations of CEPMO have been paralyzed causing great damage to the city’s constituents.”

Meanwhile, lawyer Dick Mark Dinamiling representing the protesters filed a motion for inhibition, asking the City Prosecutor’s Office to inhibit from conducting preliminary investigation on the case. “The CPO is receiving additional emolument and compensation from the City Government of Baguio.In view of avoiding any color of bias and partiality in the investigation of the case, the respondents believe that the CPO should inhibit itself from investigating the case.”

As of press time, the protesters have yet to file a counter-affidavit refuting the allegations of the private complainants.

Earlier, assistant prosecutor Gloria Agunos inhibited from the case. Sources said her inhibition was due to the fact that some of the respondents were known to her.

The case was reassigned to assistant prosecutor III Raymond Tabangin. who, according to a CPO staff, “will appreciate the complaint and counter-affidavit based on evidence presented by the parties.”

Tabangin is currently on leave. If, after Tabangin finds prima facie evidence warranting a court case, the protesters may find themselves as accused in a suit for “grave coercion” and “tumults and other disturbances of public order,” with maximum prison terms of up to six years each.