City intervenes: Clearing of 29 houses postponed

CEBU, Philippines - The demolition of at least 29 houses in a private lot in Barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City yesterday was postponed today after the city government cited some things the court sheriff has to comply with.

Lawyer Collin Rosell, who heads the city’s Division of Welfare for the Urban Poor (DWUP), yesterday went to the site prior to the scheduled demolition and talked with the court sheriff, who was accompanied by a demolition team.

The team was supposed to clear the houses, which are located across the barangay hall, by 8 a.m. yesterday, but the affected residents requested the sheriff to wait for the temporary restraining order they earlier filed in court.

The sheriff agreed to wait until 1 p.m., and since the TRO did not arrive on the agreed time, he called for the demolition of the houses, but Rossell intervened.

For one, Rossell asked for a copy of the total measurement of the lot because when he visited the place, it was not clear as to where the clearing team would start or if which houses are set to be demolished.

As of yesterday, there were 29 houses with marks on them which indicate that those are to be demolished.

Rossell also questioned if who mandated the demolition of the houses - whether it was the owner of the lot Virginia Villa or the court - because he noticed that there were minors among the demolition team.

Aside from this according to Rossell, members of the demolition team did not have identification cards.  The DWUP head also reminded the sheriff that if the demolition will push through, they should make it sure that the affected families will not sleep in the streets.

He said the relocation site for the families in Barangay Pit-os is yet to be developed. —  (FREEMAN)