Apas residents ready to fight for lots

CEBU, Philippines — Some active and retired soldiers have readied themselves to stop the impending demolition of their houses in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

Yesterday was supposed to be the first day of the scheduled demolition as ordered by the Regional Trial Court Cebu City Branch 9.

However, Archangels’ Residents Mergence Inc. (ARMI) President Anne Martel said the group received a report that the court sheriff reportedly failed to secure a clearance from the police for the execution of the demolition.

“Kami, mga sundalo baya mi. kahibalo mi sa kamatuoran. Nagdepensa mi sa country. Gusto namo nga tagaan pod mi sa equal treatment sa law nga kami respetoon pod among katungod for due process ug dunay katungod nga dili ma-demolish kay dugay na mi namuyo dinhing lugara,” she said.

Martel said his dad is among the retired soldiers who were allowed to construct houses in the area in 1960s.

The affected residents and officers of the association yesterday wore black shirts printed with “Saving Lot 937.”

Martel said there are several retired army personnel deployed in the property to ensure that the demolition will not be implemented.

The schedule of demolition is from June 17 to June 28.

The court issued the writ of execution/writ of demolition of Lot 937, a 4.5-hectare property in Sitio San Miguel, occupied by 205 families of active and retired soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Martel asked the court to wait for the ruling of the petition to stop the demolition, saying the subject lot, Lot 937, belongs to the State.

To recall, the court granted the motion of Mariano Godinez, the claimant of the property, to implement the writ of demolition of houses on the 4.5-hectare property.

It was in 2010 when Godinez, through his counsel, filed a case to reclaim Lot 937 which is being occupied by active and retired army personnel and their families.

Martel said the residents have been living in the area for several decades already and none of them knew Godinez.

Martel said the relocation of affected families is in Lot 1112 in Barangay Apas, but turned out to be owned by the Central Command of the Philippines that is why they cannot move there.

In March this year, the court also issued the writ of execution/writ of demolition of houses on the same property, but did not push through.

Martel said the residents are confident that the demolition will not be implemented as the Office of the Solicitor General also intervened in the case. (FREEMAN)