Weekend peace for Apas settlers
RESIDENTS fearing demolition in sito San Miguel in barangay Apas, Cebu City have a weekend respite from the tension of expecting to lose their homes.
With no court decision issued as of 5 p.m. yesteday, no action can be taken because demolitions are not allowed on weekends under the law.
For the first time in four days, silence prevailed in the target site.
Court sheriff Edilberto Suarin and his 200-man demolition team were nowhere near the area yesterday after he was ordered by a judge and the labor department to hold off action.
So far, six houses have been taken down while a few families voluntarily dimsantled their houses so they could salvage the housing materials.
Last Thursday evening, a woman was reportedly rushed to the hospital by paramedics after getting emotionally upset at the sight of her ruined house.
“The woman, Ester, checked her house thinking it wasn’t among the demolished. But she received a report that her husband already received money from the lot owner that’s why their house was demolished,” said Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman.
As of yesterday, she was discharged from the hospital, said Ayuman.
When the courts closed at 5 p.m. Executive Judge Soliver Peras had not released any order deciding whether or not to stop the plannede demolition of structures built in the private lot.
His staff said he was still drafting the order on the petition for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by some settlers.
Yesterday morning, RTC Judge Alexander Acosta also heard the partial motion for reconsideration on the denial of the TRO filed by a separate group of settlers.
The judge gave parties until Monday to submit their memoranda.
Last Thursday, the parties agreed to momentarily stop the demolition of 138 houses while waiting for Peras’ order.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III welcomed the “ceasefire” between the parties.
“I hope there will be a peaceful resolution to the case,” he said at a press conference.
Aletha Suico Magat has been claiming ownership of two adjacent lots measuring to 17,614 square meters through a ruling by the Supreme Court.
Last Jan. 28, Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Pamela Baring-Uy of Branch 6 issued a notice to implement a writ of demolition against 160 households.
The settlers had appealed the case before the RTC.
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