Selwyn Lao, a resort owner being blamed for the flooding in four subdivisions in Parañaque City, has turned down an alleged offer by the chairperson of Barangay Moonwalk to resolve the creek issue "secretly" just between them.

Lao has provided DAILY TRIBUNE a copy of a purported email sent to him by Barangay Moonwalk chairman Doc Jemelene "Jem" Qui, asking to "talk."

"How will we be set up so that the issue of the river that has been dumped [over with debris] does not make anymore [sic] noise? I can take action to keep people calm in my area," the purported email of Qui read in part.

"Mr. Lao, we can talk, you have no problem Mr. Lao, you probably know what I mean. Mr. Lao, what do you think? I think this is a good idea. Palalabasin natin na property nyo na din yung natambakan (We will make it appear that your property was also filled)."

Lao said that it should be the national government — the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of the Interior and Local Government — the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the local government unit that should resolve the problem, not the barangay.

"So, why is she pursuing this and offering me a secret negotiation?" asked Lao, adding that it should be the government agencies, as well as Camella Homes of the Villars, that should come out to solve the problem.

"If the Villars do not come out, that problem will not be solved. They cannot solve the problem until they face the truth of who was behind the titling of the creek," Lao said.

Camella Homes and the Villars have not responded to DAILY TRIBUNE's request for their reaction.

An official of the DENR has told this paper that rivers and creeks cannot be taken over by private companies, they being part of the public domain.

Further, the supposed email of Qui read: "I have connections, para wala na rin masabi ang aking mga kalugar (so my fellow residents won't say anything more). Deal for you, Mr. Lao?"

Lao told DAILY TRIBUNE he could not agree to just any deal, especially when it is being offered by people he doesn't know.

Residents of Barangay Moonwalk — where Lao's Wing-An Garden Resort in Multinational Village is located — Camella Classic Homes and two other villages have blamed Lao's alleged encroachment on Baloc-Baloc Creek as the reason for the flooding in their areas.

Lao, however, said the creek near his resort was a man-made diversionary waterway dug reportedly by the construction firm of former Senate president Manny Villar and current Senator Cynthia Villar that had allegedly illegally reclaimed the original creek and built houses and a road over it.

"I can't accept what she [Qui] offered. She wants to discuss all the problems under the table," Lao told this writer over the phone. He said he had reached out to various national and local government agencies over the last 18 years to resolve the matter.

"So, am I willing to talk [about a deal] under the table? Why does it need to be discussed secretly?" Lao asked.

He said he had respect for the barangay official who is a doctor but he felt he was disrespected by the tone of the email.

According to Lao, he had written a formal letter to Qui to address the problem and to ask that her constituents act civilly towards him. He said he was even barred from entering Multinational Village even if he is a homeowner.

"She has no respect for me, while I respect her. I sent her a letter, but she did not answer my letter sensibly. I also waited for her at her office for one hour but she didn't face me," Lao said.

"As a government officer, solving a problem should not be done that way. The problem needs to be solved once and for all. It should not be discussed, it shouldn't be arranged," he stressed.