Labella assumes Pasil fire victims of help to reacquire lost docs

CEBU, Philippines — To help displaced residents reacquire the documents lost in the fire, a legal assistance counter will be set up at the fire-stricken Sitio Lawis in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, a lawyer by profession, said he sees the need for the city and legal practitioners to get involved in helping fire victims obtain anew their documents, including marriage contracts, land titles, and birth certificates, among others.

“Their (fire victims) legal documents are all burned. We have to assist them in getting their documents back,” he said.

Labella said his office will put up a tent in the sitio next week, adding that they have already coordinated with Pasil Barangay Captain Julius Guioguio about the plan.

The vice mayor said his law firm, E.C. Labella, and some private lawyers will assist the fire victims.

“There will be volunteer lawyers who will be with me including my law office and two paralegal students from the University of San Carlos,” he said.

Last January 14, a massive fire hit Sitio Lawis, razing 360 houses to the ground and displacing 860 families, who are temporarily taking shelter at the Pasil Sports Complex and Evacuation Center, Pasil Elementary School, and Don Bosco Youth Training Center.

Guioguio and City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera both said it would be of great help to the affected residents.

“Dako kaayo ni matabang sa mga residente nga ang lisensya, certificates ug uban pang importante nga dokumento nasunog,” Guioguio said.

Pesquera, for her part, said “that’s a very good idea. The people there need to have an affidavit of loss so that they will be able to secure new copies of their legal documents.”

Pesquera, who is also a lawyer by profession and owns a law firm, has assured to help the residents.

City Councilor Sisinio Andales of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, however, said it is better to let the City Legal Office handle the matter.

“However, it would be best for the City Legal Office to do it in order to remove any doubts of motivation,” he said.

“Why only now after he announced publicly to run as mayor of Cebu City under PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan)?” he added.

Labella admitted he is open to challenge incumbent Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Labella earlier said he is keeping his options open after taking his oath as president of PDP-Laban in Cebu City before House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez last Wednesday. (FREEMAN)