Informal settlers rejected once again to stay at Osmeña Shrine

Cebu City Hall’s Probe team shown here issuing notices to settlers to move out of Osmeña Shrine on or before June 10. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

AROUND 50 informal settlers who were ejected from Osmeña Shrine in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City gathered inside the City Hall yesterday morning to stage another silent protest, asking Mayor Tomas Osmeña once again to allow them to stay there.

The mayor, however, said they destroyed their credibility when they claimed that he allowed them to move in the property.

“The moment you set a tone like that, that means you’re not credible. You’re just playing up for publicity,” he said.
Osmeña has already denied the claim of the settlers that he allowed them to stay there.

Osmeña said they should instead talk to his executive assistant, Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez.

He further explained that the city could not provide them with a relocation site because they just moved in.

“I don’t like to deal with that. To me, as far as I’m concerned, they are professional squatters,” he said.

He added that the property should be cleared and fencing will push through to discourage people from moving in.

A P15 million budget was proposed to the city council for the construction of fence at Osmeña Shrine. “Because of people like them, we have to spend to fence the shrine because that’s our property,” he said.

Earlier this year, Osmeña planned to build a drug rehabilitation center in the shrine, but the mayor said as of now, he has to find the right proponent or core group that will implement it.

“I cannot just assign it to someone. As a general rule, I have to find an advocate,” Osmeña said.

Also, he had to deny the request of a P50 million budget for the drug rehabilitation center that will cost P50,000 per patient if implemented.

“We have to establish our priorities. The city is not an ATM machine,” he said.

As of now, the city has no final plans yet for the property.
“Whether you have plans or not, that’s none of their business. Just because I have no plans I have to give it to them. Ako na lang,” he said.

City Councilor Jose Daluz III, on the other hand, said the mayor should at least listen to their complaints.

“Wala man guy consultation. Giayo lang sad unta og papahawa,” he said.

He added that the city should give the settlers a chance to properly evacuate.

Ramonito Del Campo, president of the Association of Peoples Initiative in Barangay Kalunasan, said there are about three houses left there.

“Karon gi-continue nila ang demolisyon. Amoa unta nga pugngan kay wala pa man silay kabalhinan,” he said.

He added that in this situation, they hope that the government will help them.

The settlers started building structures inside the shrine last March. There are already 300 structures affected by the clearing operation.