MABALACAT, Pampanga — “I was the one who made the sacrifice for the sake of Bundagul residents. Worse, this is not an issue at all.”
Thus said Vice Mayor Noelito Castro as he stressed that he had used his own money to buy the 534-square meter property used as basketball court in Barangay Bundagul.
Castro said that in 1999 the owners of the property had tried to sell it. He added that he had intervened to save the area used for sports and other public activities.
The vice mayor said that former Bundagul barangay councilors witnessed him pay for the property with his own money.
Castro said Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales had given him a lawyer – Joey Lukban – when he was negotiating for the purchase of the lot.
He added that Lukban had advised him to buy the property because expropriating it would be a “long and tedious process.”
Castro said he had given a deed of donation to Bundagul Barangay Captain Cris Cunan so that they could accept the assistance of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla.
“Now, I wonder why they have to take it against me and make an issue out of it,” said Castro.
The vice mayor added that “if they want war, so be it.” He was referring to Mayor Morales whom he shall challenge in the 2013 mayoralty race.
