Worried settlers of a lot in Sitio Tangke, Alaska Barangay Mambaling discuss their fate after the scheduled demolition yesterday was moved to Wednesday because of bad weather. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
At least a hundred settlers or 25 families occupying a lot in Sitio Tangke, Alaska Barangay Mambaling got a reprieve from having their shanties and houses demolished after bad weather caused the court-ordered demolition scheduled for yesterday to be moved to Wednesday.
The settlers, however, are hoping that another extension be given to them after Acting Cebu City Mayor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña earlier sent a letter request to Judge Pamela A. Baring Uy, presiding judge of Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 6, for the demolition to be postponed for another six months.
Members of the Sitio Tanke Home Owners Association (STHOA) and the group’s president, Virginia Canoy, went to Branch 6 of the MTCC Monday afternoon to follow-up Baring-Uy’s response to Osmeña’s letter.
However, Baring-Uy has not given her resolution yet.
According to the STHOA members, Osmeña asked the court that the city government be given at least six months to look for a relocation site for the settlers, with the assurance that the residents would voluntarily demolish their houses by January 2017 if the affected 185 families be given a relocation site.
No relocation
When sought for comment, Osmeña said that the city government is not legally bound to give those residents a relocation site since the lot is privately owned.
“Somebody came here. She told me they are a hundred families. But I assured them that if they need assistance like to transfer, maybe we can help them with the transportation. As for relocation, no. Financial, no,” Osmeña said.
Emalyn Aliviano, a member of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya Cebu, said that the demolition would continue until December this year.
Aliviano, who is assisting STHOA, said that although there would only be 25 households that would be affected by the demolition from June 27 to July 1, the writ of demolition states 25 families and other actual occupants are included.
The claimant of the land is Antonio Abellana, who presented himself to be heir of the original landowners, Felisa Bagano and Ruperto Bagano.
Aliviano said their group projected that 500 households, composed of 1000 families, are within the 7,656 square-meter lot claimed by Abellana.
STHOA president Canoy said that they are occupying Lot No. 2863-F, which is not part of Lot No. 2863-G as Abellana claimed.
Canoy said that they are utterly confused as to who really owns the land.
“Everything has been subdivided. But we were never removed from here before. Where’s the justice in this? We ask for justice and relocation for us the poor,” Canoy said in Cebuano.
The settlers said they would willingly leave the lot if they know who is the rightful owner and they are provide with an on-site relocation.
Extensions
But Osmeña said the settlers were given the demolition notice in 2012.
“They were given a three-year extension. The writ of demolition was dated November 2015. It was extended. It was postponed. So in February 2016, that was supposed to be the date that they were going to demolish. But the residents, they asked for an extension, which is always a valid reason to wait until the end of classes as per March 30,” Osmeña said.
She said that when March 30 came, the residents asked for another extension, which is after the elections. When elections passed, they were told the writ of demolition will be executed from June 27 to July 1./by Dafne N. Wenceslao USJ-R Intern