Ex-mayor in legal turmoil after demolition

THE former mayor of Rodriguez, Rizal has been sentenced to a maximum of nine years behind bars for graft charge due to the illegal demolition of house of 93 families who purchased a land in the town.

Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-baldos penned a 31-page decision that found former mayor Pedro Cuerpo, municipal engineer Fernando Roño, and barangay (village) chairman Salvador Simbulan guilty of graft.

The case stemmed from a complaint by 93 families or the Samahang Magkakapitbisig, led by Gemma Bernal, who used to occupy a land parcel in barangay Valencia, Quezon City.

After receiving P2.25 million from the owners of the lot in Quezon City, they left the city and relocated to barangay Burgos in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. represented the families and informed Cuerpo that the families will arrive on Sept. 2, 2002 in Rodriguez.

As Bernal testified, “[Cuerpo] would not accept them in [Rodriguez] because he did not want squatters there.”

Despite that, the Samahan was able to buy in the town a piece of land from a certain Lorenzo Escribe as evidenced from transfer certificate title 436965 from the Register of Deeds of Marikina City.

Cuerpo said that he would not accept them in Rodriguez unless they secured development permit.

They submitted their application for building permits to Roño twice however, they were returned because they had to have first development permit.

On Sept. 22, 2003, the families moved to Rodriguez despite lack of any building or development permits.

On the morning of the same day, Simbulan upon the order of the former mayor confronted the families and asked for their development permits. Without one, Simbulan informed that there will be demolition in the afternoon.

The following day on Sept. 23, 2003, Cuerpo ordered the demolition twice in the morning and in the afternoon, and dismantled their makeshift houses, lumber, tarpaulin, and appliances.