More eviction notices for illegal occupants of Capitol-owned lots

The revival of the deal swapping the land properties of the city and province appeared to be dim as Capitol is set to issue at least 1,000 more eviction notices to illegal occupants of its properties in the city anytime this week.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said the proposed land-swap deal "is not going very well" apparently because of the province's new eviction notices to the occupants of its properties located in barangays Lahug and Luz.

Provincial attorney Marino Martinquilla yesterday confirmed the issuance of such additional eviction notices within the week.

In the past months, demand letters were already sent to the illegal settlers occupying the Capitol lots along B. Rodriguez Street - specifically the property across Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center - and across the Grand Convention Center in barangay Luz.

The new eviction notices are based on the findings of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), which had been tasked to conduct socioeconomic profiling of the illegal occupants of the provincial lots within the 11 barangays of the city.

Only those who have fully paid their amortization dues to the province, even without land titles, will be spared from the eviction.

Martinquilla said partial payments by some occupants were already forfeited for their failure to complete payment within the specified period provided under Provincial Board Resolution No. 93-1.

PPDO coordinator Adolgo Quiroga said their findings two months ago showed that many of the occupants are no longer the original beneficiaries who have not fully paid their amortization dues.

Osmeña, who went to see the governor at the Capitol last Saturday morning, told reporters yesterday that the illegal occupants cannot be evicted without a writ of demolition issued by the court.

The mayor said the governor pointed out that the Capitol properties identified under PB Resolution No. 93-1 should be for residential purposes only but that many of them located along the road are used for commercial purposes.

"It is very clear that Gwen is just interested in maximizing the financial interest of the province," he said. - Cristina C. Birondo