Demolition team started to demolish structures in sitio San Roque ESCO V Rama which is claimed to be the property of a certain Atty. Mahinay. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
More than 100 families in sitio ESCO-Englis, barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City will be displaced after the court ordered the demolition of 46 structures in the 2,000-square-meter property of lawyer Makilito Mahinay.
The sheriff served the demolition order yesterday and started tearing down houses, but Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella went to the area and asked that the demolition be stopped.
Rama said he signed a motion on October 15 asking the court to hold the demolition in abeyance for humanitarian reasons.
Rama said he was surprised with yesterday’s demolition.
Labella said he would ask the judge to postpone the demolition until the end of the school year since the affected families have children attending schools nearby.
Labella said the families agreed to vacate the private lot but asked to be allowed to stay until March next year and be given time to clear the area.
Guadalupe barangay Captain Michael Gacasan lamented that the court did not coordinate with them and went ahead with he clearing operation.
“Actually, we weren’t aware of this. There was no coordination with the barangay. We didn’t receive any notice.
They should get a clearance from the barangay first,” he said in Cebuano.
He said the barangay and city government should have been informed so that they can assist the affected families.
Gacasan said the barangay could set up tents as temporary shelter for the families displaced when 10 houses were torn down yesterday.
Others could stay in the barangay complex.
Yesterday, Mayor Rama, Vice Mayor Labella, the court sheriff and a representative of laywer Mahinay met to discuss the matter.
Rama said they agreed to postpone the demolition until November 30.
But the city government will still appeal to the court to hold off demolition until next year.
Rama said he would ask the property owner, whom he described as a good friend, to consider their request for an extension because residents already accept that they don’t own the land and that Mahinay won the ejectment case.
Rama said he would not demand for financial assistance from Mahinay. He said the city would extend help by relocating them in barangay Quiot.