Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he believes that Sugar Regulatory Administrator Rafael Coscolluela and Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella are using the Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance for their political agenda for 2010.

Leonardia said this became apparent during the flood consultative meeting at the Planta Centro Bacolod Hotel Friday in Bacolod City, when Coscolluela publicly instigated the people there to either sue or recall the mayor.   

Coscolluela said he has no plans to run for any position in 2010. “If only they knew the whole story. Politics has nothing to do with that,” he said.

Leonardia said Coscolluela can always claim that it was a technical, innocent or objective remark. But given the fact that he is an experienced politician, it does not appear to be a purely innocent remark, he said.

This is a classic case of either confusion or manipulation, because they had learned that the meeting was supposed to be an initiative of the Office of Civil Defense VI, he also said.  

“We have already heard allegations that Coscolluela and Puentevella have their plans but now it has been confirmed that they are using BAHA for their political agenda,” Leonardia said.

In the first place, he was not supposed to be in the program, he said.

He said Coscolluela is entitled to his politics. It is only that the way the talks about their plans were confirmed was rather disconcerting since, he said, Coscolluela a long-time friend and he still considers him one.

Leonardia said the letter invited the Flood Control Coordinating Action Team and Councilor Roberto Rojas. There was also something sinister about that letter since the program earlier submitted was suddenly altered, he said.

“We found out that the meeting was hosted and paid for by the Office of the Civil Defense, but the backdrop only said ‘Welcome Congressman Monico Puentevella and guests’,” he added.

“I hope the members of BAHA will not allow themselves to be used by politicians. We are much concerned about the flooding problem, and we are working on it, and if we only focus on the technical aspect of the problem, I don’t think this is a big problem,” he said.

Coscolluela said BAHA is not inclined to let anyone tell them what to do.

FILE A CASE OR RECALL

He said that during the meeting he told them to find ways to work with the local government. He proposed a technical workshop organized by the Office of the Civil Defense with the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the City Engineer’s Office consultants for a plan of action to address the flood problem and get the commitment of the mayor and the solon.

If they (BAHA) are not happy with the response they can file a case for non-implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act or R.A. 9003, Coscolluela said. The other option they can take is to file a recall petition, he also said. These are options available to any ordinary citizen, he added.

HASTY CONCLUSION

He said the mayor was hasty in making a conclusion and may have over-reacted because he may not have heard the whole proceedings.

Leonardia, however, said he had seen the video-tape of Coscolluela’s remarks.

Coscolluela said that at the start of the meeting, he clarified that his presence was not political but as a victim of flood being a resident of Sta. Clara Subdivision, he said.

Coscolluela appealed to Leonardia not to allow intrigues to get in the way of his job. Because their intention is not to recall him but to get his cooperation in solving the problem, he said.

Leonardia said he and Coscolluela are always on very good terms when they see each other face-to-face but he has never discussed this.

He also said they had opened the invitation to the group to join the committee of Rojas so that if they have a representative, it would be easy for them to coordinate with the city.

‘BOMBARDED WITH INSULTS’

Rojas said the city had acted on the recent requests of the BAHA. He requested them to inform all their other members so they will be aware of what the city has already done on the flood problem.

City Executive Assistant on Civil Defense and Disaster, Joemarie Vargas, said, he together with the DPWH, were bombarded with insults during the consultative meeting Friday evening and their presentation was rejected.

He said Rene Hinojales, who was the stage manager during the “miting de abanse” of Puentevella, walked out of the room after an emotional outburst and after insulting DPWH engineer Art Badajos. He said the flood consultative meeting, which was supposed to be technical, turned out theatrical.*CGS

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