A brawl nearly ensued between residents of barangay Binggay and the demolition team assisted by the police during a demolition inside the compound owned by Michel Lhuillier in Borbon town yesterday.
The demolition was conducted following a court decision to demolish five houses owned by Gumercindo Branzuela, his relative Ramon Branzuela and Rhea Blanco, inside the compound in a coastal area.
Borbon Police Station chief Insp. Camilo Gonzaga said Bogo City RTC Branch 61 judge Alfredo dela Victoria issued the writ of demolition last April 29 and ordered it carried out within three days.
Gonzaga said Junly, the son of Gumercindo, reportedly tried to harass the demolition team prompting the policemen securing the operation to fire warning shots into the air to keep the crowd away.
Cooler heads immediately grabbed Junly away, he was later made to see the police for an explanation but was not arrested, Gonzaga said.
“Duna ray gamay’ng komosyon kay midasmag man ni si Junly sa mga nag-demolish mangulata kaha to siya maong nangatras ang mga nag-demolish, duna pay laing mga tawo didto nga kahamagon sad mao to nga nag-warning shot nalang ning akong mga tawo,” Gonzaga said.
Gonzaga was just assigned to his post two days ago.
Before the case was filed against the occupants Lhuillier reportedly negotiated with them and tried to offer them new sites, but the occupants reportedly did not budge, forcing him to file charges to evict them.
The occupants lost the case in the lower court and appealed in the Regional Trial Court but again lost, hence the issuance of the writ of demolition. -Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP