Cebu City Hall gives CitiCenter dwellers final ultimatum to leave

CEBU, Philippines - Some 12 families occupying the CitiCenter Commercial Complex in Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City were given more time to clear the area of illegal structures themselves.

Should they continue to ignore the reminder, the city government would be forced to be the one to demolish the structures after Feb. 21.

This is the warning issued by Raquel Arce, City Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team head, after the Office of the Mayor sent to the families a seven-day notice dated Feb. 11, which served as second warning.

Arce said that should the illegal settlers still refuse to take heed, they would be given three more days as last chance to leave.

 â€œKung di gihapon sila mobiya (If they still would not leave), our office will implement the strict provision of the law,” she said.

Arce said the illegal structures violate Article 694 of the Civil Code; City Ordinance 1481; and Section 28 of  Republic Act 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.

She said residents can either clear the area themselves within the given period or secure a hold order from the Office of  the Mayor or a Temporary Restraining Order from the Court.

Mayor Michael Rama has been planning to construct a condominium for City Hall employees in the area, so he wanted it cleared.

To recall, the City Council, through an approved ordinance, gave the residents a six-month moratorium last year while they look for a relocation site.

The ordinance had prompted the residents to withdraw the civil case they filed against the city government for evicting them from the area without providing them a relocation.

Rama and then city administrator Attorney Jose Marie Poblete were the defendants of the case.  (FREEMAN)