Anti-oil depot advocate seeks Lim, Moreno suspension

By Pat C. Santos

06/16/2009

Anti-oil depot advocates have filed formal charges against Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim with Vice Mayor Isko Moreno at the office of the Ombudsman in connection with the signing of City Ordinance 8177 which allows the continued stay of the oil depot in the Pandacan, Manila.

In an eight page complaint, the group identified as Advocates for Environmental and social Justice (AESJ) asked the Ombudsman to impose a preventive suspension to Lim and Moreno for signing the said ordinance on May 28 where the depot of the “Big Three” and other hazardous industries will be permitted to operate.

At the same time, public officials, various groups and concerned citizens are determined to push through a people’s initiative to repeal Ordinance 8187 (formerly draft Ordinance 7177), which allows the Big Three oil companies’ (Chevron Philippines; Petron and Pilipinas Shell) oil depots to remain in Manila.

Councilor Ma. Lourdes “Bonjay” Isip-Garcia, a major proponent of the depots’ transfer outside Metro Manila, said the initiative, in coordination with the University of the Philippines College of Law, is to be led by a group called “Manileño Kontra Abuso.”

“Our friends, the UP lawyers have advised us on the Local Government Code of 1991 and Republic Act 6735 (Initiative and Referendum Act), and the procedure where registered voters may directly propose, enact, amend or repeal an existing ordinance. To repeal Ordinance 8187 thru local initiative, a petition with an initial 1,000 signatures of proponents who are registered voters will be filed at the City Council,” says Isip-Garcia.

The city council will have 30 days to take favorable action, then the petitioners will be given 90 days to collect the required number of signatures. Then there shall be a plebiscite if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) determines that there is sufficiency in the required number of signatories,” narrates Isip-Garcia.

Isip-Garcia expressed confidence the required number of signatories can be easily achieved, considering the majority sentiment of the people of Manila. “The church, most of the NGOs, sectors, and concerned citizens’ groups are against the depots staying,” she added.

Manila has a total of 1,020,144 registered voters. But only ten percent, or 102,014 is the minimum requirement necessary to have the required number of signatories. Also, per district, only three percent is the minimum requirement necessary. Isip-Garcia cites that for her home Sixth District, of the 156,183 voter-residents, only three percent or 4,686 signatories is necessary.

According to Lawyer Vladimir Cabigao convenor of the AESJ the Ombudsman should effect first the suspension of Lim and Moreno for them not to be able to influence the case as they have been charged with the violation of their oath of Office and conduct prejudicial to the public interest a charge which impose a penalty of suspension.

Lim and Moreno were charged for favoring the continued stay of oil depot by Shell, Petron, and Chevron (formerly Caltex) despite a previous order coming from the Supreme Court affirming the another ordinance that disallow the controversial depot in Pandacan.

Lim for his part had said he is not afraid of any lawsuit that will be thrown against him on the City Ordinance 8177 as had consulted all the stakeholders and those affected by the controversial depot and some 141 industries in the city of Manila.

Lim’s position on the issue is not for the permanent stay of the depot buta gradual phase-out consisting of three to four years based on the request of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

According to Lim, Cardinal Rosales and himself together with some oil companies executives signed a public declaration that said they will be leaving the area on the agreed period.

With Tirbune wires

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