Pulangbato barangay officials, head of demolition team charged

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly destroying their residential houses, Jorge Miñoza, a resident of Candarong, Pulangbato, Cebu City filed a civil case for injunction and damages against the barangay captain and officials of barangay Pulangbato, Cebu City and the head of the demolition team.

In his three-page complaint, Miñoza alleged that defendants demolished their houses without a court order.

“That without any notice to the plaintiff, defendants demolished their two residential houses and will continue to demolish the remaining house occupied by one of his children,” the complaint reads.

The complaint was filed through lawyer Salvador Solima.  Named defendants were Racquel Bohol-Arce, head of the demolition team, barangay captain Maria Velasquez and other barangay officials.

With that, Miñoza asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction against the defendants to avoid any irreparable injury.

Miñoza said he is the registered owner of the said lot which has an area of 1,933 square meters. He said this is the same lot where he constructed his residential houses.

He added that he purchased the lot from Fresco Velayo on December 18, 1970. As evidence, he attached the copy of the deed of absolute sale in his complaint.

Miñoza said he has been “religiously” paying the realty taxes of the property and was was surprised when their houses, which he said were constructed for several years already through their hard-earned money, were destroyed.

He is asking for a speedy trial. “This Honorable Court is most respectfully prayed that a restraining order or temporary injunction be immediately issued ordering the defendants to stop the demolition of the remaining house of the plaintiff,” the complaint reads.

He is also asking for damages due to the alleged illegal acts of the defendants and to stop defendants from entering the premises.

He asked defendants to pay him for at least P200,000 as moral damages; P600,000 as actual damages; P75,000 as attorney’s fees; P3,000 as appearance fee and P20,000 as litigation expenses.  (FREEMAN)