Bacolod City Legal Officer Allan Zamora yesterday said the Mayor has acted on the “takeover ordinance” involving the operation and management of the port at the reclamation area in Bacolod City , Friday.

However, he said he does not know whether the Mayor approved or vetoed it. But definitely he did not allow it to lapse into a law, he said.

The “takeover ordinance” was approved by the SP on third and final reading on Dec. 19 with seven positive votes against five negative votes and one abstention. It was submitted to the Mayor's office on Jan. 8 and the Mayor had 10 days to act on it.

In a phone interview, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who was in Manila yesterday, said he will make an announcement today considering that it is such an important matter that has an impact on anyone.

Leonardia said he prefers to put things in proper perspective and make a statement. He will personally answer questions and clarify things together with Zamora today, he said.

“It is today that the deadline is supposed to be complied with and we believe we have done that,” he said. There is just a special request to the Vice Mayor's Office that, in deference to the Mayor, he will announce it when he gets there, he said. But definitely a decision was made, he added.

Leonardia said if there are people speculating that perhaps he will allow it to lapse into a law, it did not, because a decision was made and he did it last Friday.

Roselier Maalat, a lawyer of BREDCO, had earlier said that once the ordinance becomes effective, they will file a case in court for declaration of nullity of the ordinance and damages with prayer for temporary restraining order, he said.*CGS

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