Mandaue won't tolerate professional squatters

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City will no longer tolerate professional squatters.

Yesterday, the city demolition team tore down two houses illegally constructed over a portion of the Tipolo Creek in Lower Tipolo belonging to Anastacio Daano, former president of the Tipolo Creekside Homeowners Association, and Purisima Butalid, 30, single.

Records show Daano in 2006 received financial assistance from Mandaue when local government units in Metro Cebu, especially Mandaue, were ordered to clear their cities of "eyesores" with respect to the holding of the ASEAN summit.

Aside from the financial assistance, Daano at that time also availed of a slot in a socialized housing project in barangay Tingub through the assistance of the non-government organization Justice & Peace for Integrity and Creation.

However, Daano allegedly waived his rights and sold his unit to another person and went back to Lower Tipolo last year to build another house after a previous house was demolished in 2006.

While constructing his house late last year, a certain Sherlita Claro, a barangay creek cleaner, tried to stop Daano from proceeding with the construction of his house.

Claro informed barangay captain Restituto Villanueva about Daano's house.

Villanueva confronted Daano but the man was unyielding, leavingVillanueva with no recourse but to report the matter to Mayor Jonas Cortes, who, in turn, ordered the city legal office to take action against Daano.

On the other hand, a similar thing happened to another illegal occupant, Priscilla Butalid, who resides in barangay Pasil, Cebu City but whose brother has long been residing near the creek in Tipolo and is a member of the Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association (LTHA).

His sister also wanted to join the association but since she was not qualified to become a member, she built a house in the area in December last year and had it rented out.

But since both illegal occupants did not heed the call of the city last January 12, the city legal office sent them a notice to vacate.

For ignoring to heed the notice to vacate, the city demolition team tear down their houses yesterday morning.

A portion of Daano's house was left standing to give him time to stay for the weekend to give him time to find a place to rent.

The demolition team would return on Monday to tear down the house if he remains stubborn.

Cortes has ordered the city legal office to immediately take action against professional squatters to discourage other professional squatters from putting up illegal structures in the city. (FREEMAN)