Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said that criminal and civil cases were being prepared against a businessman that tried to demolish informal settlers’ shanties while there were people inside.
According to Sotto, the businessman has repeatedly tried to construct a building in Barangay Bambang without permit from the local government, blocked a public road with a truck and crane, and destroyed street humps.
“Criminal and civil cases are being prepared,” he said in a tweet.
A video posted by a news website showed Sotto asking the businessman, “Gusto ‘nyo makulong kayo? O mumurahin mo rin ako gaya ng pagmumura mo sa tao ko?”
[Do you want to be arrested? Or are you going to cuss at me the way you cussed at my people?]
“Sinubukan mong mag-demolish nang may tao sa loob ng bahay,” he added.
[You tried to demolish houses while there were people inside them.]
The businessman later claimed the mayor was “biased” against him.
“As a government official, I will treat things fairly. Kung walang permit, hindi puwedeng mag-construction (no permit, no construction),” he said.
