Residents get 2-week leeway; clearing halted
Tension ensued between members of the Cebu City's
Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, Enhancement (PROBE) team and the residents as the latter
tried to stop the demolition of 88 structures built illegally on the sidewalk of C. Arellano Boulevard in barangays Tejero and
Tinago yesterday.
The scuffle reportedly started when residents started throwing rocks and shouting at the demolition team using foul words.
But it did not stop the demolition team from executing the April 12 clearing order of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
"We are claiming the sidewalk. Dili ma-claim ang sidewalk kun dili ma-clear nato ang structures," said PROBE Team Head Raquel Arce.
The owners of the structures cried foul over the demolition.
Nilo Pilar, president of Silangan 2 residents homeowner's association, said no consultation or discussion was made prior to the demolition.
Pilar said the association only received a notice to clear the road.
But he said the notice did not clearly specify and indicate that houses are also subject for demolition.
"Dugay nami namuyo dinhi. Ako, 59 nako katuig diri. Diri ko nagdako. Walay problema nga papahawaon mi pero legal unta ang process. Iklaro unta nga asa man mi padung inig human nila og demolish?" he said.
Arce said the affected families were given enough time to vacate the place and demolish their own structures.
Arce received two clearing orders from Osmeña last April 17.
"You are hereby directed to remove, demolish, and clear the illegal structures constructed besides the Cebu City-owned lot and private for three-meters road widening at Arellano Street, Sitio Silangan I-II, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City," portion of the order read.
Arce said she was initially given 10 days after she received the order to execute it. But she waited for the conclusion of the May 2018 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
DEMOLITION HALTED
However, the clearing of structures was ordered stopped after an hour.
Arce said her team was directed by the mayor to temporarily halt the demolition.
"Ang text sa mayor is 'hold Tejero demolition for two weeks.' So wala magpasabot nga gi-lift niya ang demolition order. Mobalik mi diri after two weeks to execute the clearing order," Arce said.
Only five of the 88 houses were demolished yesterday.
But family members immediately rebuilt them after the demolition team left.
In a separate interview, Osmeña said he had to stop the demolition to show that he has a "heart."
However, the mayor said the postponement is only good for two weeks.
"That's the problem. They should not have a sense of entitlement that they haven't paid for rent for 50 years, now they want to own it," he said.
When asked if the city would provide relocation site, Osmeña said the city government is not compelled to provide sites for the illegal settlers.
He said he needs to issue the order because the city is growing and it needs more space for vehicles, and pedestrians, among others.
The mayor will have a dialogue with the affected families on Thursday to discuss his order.
"They wanted a dialogue with me, I will talk to them. I think Thursday," he said.—
Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/ KBQ