City dad sued for ‘illegal construction’ on creek

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Councilor Diosdado Suico is facing charges before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Section 301 of Presidential Decree 1096, otherwise known as the National Building Code.

Suico allegedly ignored the notices given to him by a municipal building officer ordering him to stop the rip-rapping works along a creek in Barangay Garing, Consolacion.

“Suico’s acts of continually defying the three notices of violation and his rip-rapping works wanting the necessary building permit constitute a violation of the National Building Code as provided under Section 301 on Building Permits,” building officer Carlito Maglasang’s complaint reads.

Maglasang, also municipal engineer, said his office received reports from barangay officials regarding the rip-rapping works in a property owned by Suico along the creek.

Acting on the report, Maglasang went personally to the area together with his staff Jobert Tibon and Joel Navarrete and saw the alleged illegal construction. He said Suico did not apply for a building permit for it.

“I then checked with the records of my office and found out that Suico has not applied nor was granted any building permit,” the complaint reads.

Thus, the building officer said that on June 10 this year, their office sent a notice of violation against the city councilor and ordered him to stop the construction within his property.

According to Maglasang, their office sent a total of four notices to Suico but the latter allegedly did not comply with the requirements for a building permit, prompting him to file a complaint before the prosecutor’s office.

Section 301 of Presidential Decree 1096 states that “no person shall erect, construct, alter, repair, move, convert or demolish any building or structure or cause the same to be done without first obtaining permit therefore from the Building Official assigned in the place where the subject building is located or the building work is to be done.”

The councilor is set to answer the allegations filed against him. (FREEMAN)