Police to keep peace during Apas demolition

CEBU, Philippines - The police will not assist in the impending demolition of houses in Lot 937 in Barangay Apas, Cebu City, but only be there to keep the peace, said Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe.

Buenafe said this in his comment to the ex-parte motion for police assistance by court sheriff Elcid Caballes to implement writ of demolition.

Caballes is the implementing sheriff of the writ of demolition to be implemented on Lot 937 in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas. Around 168 families stand to lose their homes.

In his comment, Buenafe cited Rule 21, Section 7 of the PNP Operational Procedures Manual 2010.

“The role of the PNP shall be limited to the maintenance of peace and order, crowd control and the security of the sheriff of equivalent officer of quasi-judicial or administrative body,” his comment read.

“In no case shall PNP personnel participate in the implementation of the decision/order/resolution by performing acts not herein mentioned, such as, but not limited to dismantling, hauling of personal properties and other analogous acts,” comment further reads.

Since CPPO is responsible for the maintenance of peace and order in Sitio San Miguel, Buenafe said he deployed regular police patrols in the area.

On May 2, 2012, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo issued guidelines pertaining to the deployment of police assistance in all eviction and demolition activities.

The guidelines were used by Buenafe as basis for his comment on the ex-parte motion filed by Caballes.

Buenafe claimed he did not receive a copy of the said ex-parte motion but was able to secure a copy before the court last May 9.

He added during the implementation of the writ the “PNP personnel shall observe maximum tolerance and respect for individual rights at all times.”

Earlier, Buenafe was directed by Judge Soliver Peras of Regional Trial Court Branch 10 to file his comment to the ex-parte motion within three days.

In 1997, Mariano Godinez, through his counsel, filed a case to reclaim Lot 937 which was occupied by active and retired army personnel and their families.

The case was promulgated in 2008 in favor of Godinez and the settlers were directed to vacate by the court. –(FREEMAN)