Despite shooting, Tejero demolition to continue

CEBU, Philippines — The demolition of more than 80 houses at Sitio Silangan 2, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City will resume on Monday, despite the attempt on the life of one of the operation team leaders.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the incident will not stop the city from clearing the sidewalks in the area.

“Of course not. PROBE should ask for police assistance,” he told The FREEMAN when asked if the city will halt the demolition in Barangay Tejero.

Cebu City’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) head Raquel Arce has requested the Cebu City Police Office to deploy a special force on Monday once they resume the clearing operation.

She said the ambush on one of the team leaders, Arnulfo Cadungog, last Thursday has not affected the morale of the team.

“Nakig-estorya nako sa mga kaubanan nga dili kini makapaluya namo kay wala miy nayatakan nga tao.  Igo raman mi gatuman og unsay mandato sa among opisina, igo ra namong gi-execute og unsay kamandoan sa among labaw,” she told reporters.

With the kind of work they are doing, Arce said they have become used to receiving text messages threatening them.

Arce added she already informed the police about the possibility that work, specifically the demolition which was led by Cadungog in Barangay Tejero, may be behind the incident.

Just last Wednesday, PROBE has resumed the clearing operations of the houses that are constructed on the street of C. Arellano of Barangays Tinago and Tejero.

Arce said the team resumed the operation after the notices and orders have been served, adding that the court denied the motion of the residents to stop the city from implementing the order.

On Thursday morning, she said the team was ready to resume the demolition of the houses but they moved out since children were reportedly used as human barricade.

In the evening of that day, Arce said the unidentified assailant ambushed Cadungog, brother of Tejero Barangay Councilman Jessielou Cadungog.

On July 10, 2018, PROBE has started to execute the April-12 clearing order of Mayor Tomas Osmeña since at least 88 structures occupied by the residents are located on the streets.

The residents then asked the court to stop the city from clearing their houses but they failed to get a favorable decision from the court.

“Wala ko kahibaw sa iyang private life but more sa trabaho. Specifically sa bag-ohay nga gihimo nga demolition sa Sitio Silangan, Barangay Tejero. Vocally, gisulti na through megaphone nga kon ipadayon namo ang clearing operation, naa gyud silay kuhaon,” she said.

Arce said Cadungog, who has been with the team for almost a year, is one of the PROBE team workers who is residing in Barangay Tejero, adding that the latter was the team leader of the demolition in the area.

As precautionary measure, Arce said she ordered all 120 workers of the team to stop wearing their uniforms.

She said the team identified the person who threatened the PROBE team but they are still collating evidence against the person who reportedly resides in Barangay Tejero.

Arce said Osmeña informed her that the latter will shoulder all medical expenses of Cadungog. — GAN (FREEMAN)