The Cebu City Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) team will proceed with the demolition of 15 houses of informal settlers in the 4.2-hectare Osmeña Shrine if the court cannot present a temporary restraining order (TRO) before 9 a.m. today.
Raquel Arce, Probe team head, told reporters in an interview yesterday that they will demolish more than the 50 houses that are illegally built in the area.
“Fifteen ra ang identified nga naa sa notice, but we could also extend our powers because it says nga everything which is illegally built man (Only 15 homes were identified in the notice, but we could also extend our powers because it says that we could demolish everything which is illegally built),” said Arce.
She also emphasized that she needed to receive the TRO before they will proceed with their operation.
“I need to have a copy dili lang tungod kay nakadungog ko gikan sa reporters (I need to have a copy not because I heard it from the reporters),” she said.
She said that the operation could last the whole day.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, acting Cebu City Legal officer Eleodoro Diaz said they still did not receive a TRO from the court.
Arce said it is better for the settlers to do the demolition themselves to prevent damage to their housing materials, such as plywood and roof.