Cooperative asks court to stop Capitol from demolishing its building

CEBU, Philippines – A multi-purpose cooperative servicing the water needs of the residents of Sitio Langub in Barangay Kalunasan is asking the court to stop the provincial government from demolishing its property.

Antonio Canoy, president of Langub Multi-Purpose Cooperative, filed the Petition for Injunction yesterday, which asked the court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order against the Cebu Province Real Properties Protection Task Force and Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre.

The petition stemmed from a notice of demolition Capitol issued on June 17 against the cooperative’s almost finished two-storey building currently being constructed in the 30-square meter lot owned by the province.

In his petition, Canoy said that sometime in 2003, the provincial government expressed its intention to sell the property to the cooperative. The Provincial Board reportedly passed a resolution authorizing then Governor Pablo Garcia to sell the property, however, the same was not implemented until a new set of provincial officers were elected.

Upon the assumption of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, another resolution was approved, which amended the previous authority to sell the property in Kalunasan.

Canoy said the cooperative has constructed a deep well in the subject property, believing that the province will make good of their intention to sell the property.

Canoy said they wrote a letter to Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez on September 27, 2007 asking for the implementation of the resolutions and for the cooperative to pay the price of the property equivalent to the market value of the lot, but their letter allegedly was left unanswered.

Canoy said they were just surprised when they received a notice of demolition last week. He claimed that the cooperative has the right to peacefully possess the building they have built on the lot in Kalunasan.

He said the negotiation to purchase the property has already been consummated by the two resolutions of the provincial board, which was also their basis in occupying the property and building the deep well and its office.

He said the province’s intention to demolish the property would mean a stoppage of their water service to the residents in Sitio Langub.

Canoy said that if not stopped, the demolition will cause “irreparable damage and injury” to the cooperative. — Fred P. Languido/JMO (THE FREEMAN)