Residents fail to prevent demolition

CEBU, Philippines - Police were able to neutralize the illegal occupants of the lot who earlier threatened to prevent the demolition of their houses.

Policemen from Station 5 based in Barangay Marigondon confiscated stones and improvised handguns, locally known as pugakhang, from the resisting residents.

Before the arrival of the police and the court sheriff, the affected residents lined up outside their houses to form a human barricade, trying to prevent the authorities.

But policemen were able to enter at the place with sheriff Jasper Tajudia.

A resident claimed that he was hit by the police who escorted the sheriff and the demolition team.

Another resident was also brought to a nearby clinic after he collapsed and lost consciousness.

Court sheriff Tajudia of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Lapu-Lapu City implemented the order of demolition from MTCC Judge Manuel Sabello.

The demolition was supposed to be scheduled Thursday last week but was cancelled after the Department of Interior and Local Government issued a memorandum.

The memorandum stated that the court sheriff should have coordinated first with concerned agencies and the house owners before implementing the demolition order.

The 70 affected families complained against the demolition, citing the lack of relocation and the small financial assistance given to them.  (FREEMAN)