Laguna town mayor eyes P1-B loan to finance construction of a modern city hall

SAN PEDRO, Laguna Jan. 2 (PNA) -- Municipal Mayor Calixto Cataquiz will secure a P1 billion loan from a Filipino-Chinese millionaire trader to finance the construction of a modern city hall in line with his program to turn his lakeside pueblo into a city.

Cataquiz's plan came despite Rep. Dan Fernandez (lst District, Laguna), author of city charter bill losing a case at the House Electoral Tribunal (HRET) for alleged lack of residence.

Linda Sietereales, San Pedro public information officer, confirmed Cataquiz's plan to borrow a loan to spark the development of San Pedro into a city.

Pablo Tamesis, a consultant of Cataquiz and a veteran newsman, said the mayor would ask Lucio Tan, a "taipan", for a P1 billion loan to build a new city hall.

On Fernandez's problem, the actor-optometrist said he would appeal the HRET decision, because he had already won a similar electoral case questioning his residence previously.

Fernandez claims he has been residing in Sta. Rosa City for two years now, so the allegation of Nereo "NR" Joaquin whom he soundly defeated in the last elections, was not true.

Joaquin, through a political supporter, filed a protest with the HRET claiming that Fernandez "is actually a resident of Calamba City and only ran in the First District to win as a congressman."

The grandson of the late Senator Estanislao Fernandez was once elected Laguna provincial vice governor.

Today, he lives in a posh subdivision in Sta. Rosa City. "My children have been studying in the city," he said.

Dong Ibanez, Fernandez's chief in his Pacita Complex I sub-office, said the solon was proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Ibanez said the fact that the Comelec approved the candidacy of Fernandez as a lst District congressman, this meant that the latter satisfied the requirements to run for Congress.

He said the HRET decision was appealable.