Army evicts Jusmag housing occupants

Armed with a court order, more than a thousand Army troops forced the eviction of some 50 retired military and police officers occupying the 40-hectare housing facility of the Joint United States Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City yesterday.

Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres said the eviction was carried out after the temporary restraining order obtained by the retired military and police officers last July 14 lapsed.

Torres said there were approximately 50 families of retired military officers occupying the 40-hectare housing facility. He said 15 of them tried to put up a fight and resisted the eviction.

"Since July 14, when the order came out, there were those who were willing to voluntarily vacate the place. We will try to persuade others to do the same," Torres said.

He said 20 active officers whose families occupy houses at the JUSMAG housing facility would be spared eviction since they are entitled.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino said the eviction order was carried out "in the spirit of fairness."

Actor Ricardo Cepeda, son of retired Air Force general Cesar Go who is one of the occupants of the disputed facility, said the homeowners have a pending motion before the Pasig City regional trial court for an injunction order.

But Army deputy spokesman Maj. Rodolfo Dumawa said such an order has not been issued.

Over a thousand troops enforced the eviction order by loading up the furniture and other belongings of the 50 "overstaying" retired officers and help them move to their new homes.

Although the soldiers were exposed to verbal abuse by the defiant occupants, they continued to carry out their mission to drive out the illegal occupants.

Torres said the Army troopers that enforced the eviction order were unarmed.

He said the Army is planning to divide 1,000 square meter lots to accommodate more families of active military officers.

Those occupying the disputed houses included former Armed Forces chiefs Benjamin Defensor, Diomedio Villanueva, former Army chief Gregorio Camiling, former Armed Forces deputy chief, now defense undersecretary Ernesto Carolina and special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu.

It was not known, however, if they have voluntarily moved out after the eviction order came out.

The Army’s quarters for military personnel located at the JUSMAG area at Fort Bonifacio have been reserved for military use under Proclamation No. 423 dated July 12, 1957.

The Contract of Occupancy states that officers occupying the facility are required to move out 60 days upon retirement or other valid cause for cessation of service with the military.

But sometime in the early 90s, the spouses of the officers who had the privilege of using the JUSMAG housing area formed an organization and were able to obtained titles to their lots.

The government, through the Solicitor General, is currently questioning the validity of these titles.