Alcover sues Beverly Hills Homeowners Association

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover filed a criminal complaint against members of the Homeowners Association of Beverly Hills, Lahug after they allegedly installed another barricade at their gates that bars the entry of the public anew.

Following the clearing operation enacted by Cebu City Government on Beverly Hill’s toll gate on the grounds reportedly owned by the city government last March 12, 2024, a “boom barrier” was allegedly installed anew.

In an interview with The Freeman, Alcover said that he filed this complaint last Tuesday, May 14, 2024 before the Department of Justice.

He insisted that the Cebu City government owns the open spaces in Beverly Hills Subdivision including the road network and its gate.

Last October 13, 2023, Alcover has requested P10 Million worth of allocation on the proposed expropriation of a portion in the Beverly Hills Subdivision following concerns of its road closure that bars non-residents of the subdivision from passing through.

In his privilege speech during the regular session last Oct. 13, Alcover presented before the Cebu City Council the said proposal that could lead to the opening of road access at Beverly Hills.

According to Alcover, as stated in the deed of donation that he also presented during the session, the said road from Gate 1 to Gate 2 until the Taoist Temple, is on a city-owned road.

But the homeowners stated that the deed of donation of the road network that Alcover has stated is still under the Beverly Hills Corporation.

“All the road maps are under Beverly Hills Corporation,” the homeowners have said.

For them, a court order should have been shown during the demolition, instead they were shown an order from the Office of the Mayor.

The homeowners said that the city government is just under the assumption that the whole road access is owned by the city government.

Alcover said that it is also the assumption of the homeowners that the public were no longer allowed to pass through the said gate without a sticker.

“Katong giguba namo nga gate, exit gate man to. Gi-una to namo kay kato maoy klaro kaayong nipatong jud sa yuta sa gobyerno, mao tuy unang giguba,” sakd Alcover.

On his five-page complaint affidavit, Alcover stated that he filed the instant complaint for four counts of violation of Section 301 of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1096, otherwise known as the “National Building Code of the Philippines”, against Beverly Hills Homeowners’ Association Inc. and its past and current officers and members of its board.

His affidavit further said that he was able to obtain Notices of Illegal Construction and Work Stoppage Order, dated May 3, 2023 for the subdivision’s guardhouse.

The same notices were also found and dated July 20, 2023 for the subdivision’s basketball gym, and also on July 20, 2023 the same notice was found for the construction of the water pump house.

“All these experiences and knowledge turned into frustration as it was not only me that was denied entry but also many residents from adjoining areas,” his affidavit further reads. — /ATO (FREEMAN)