Demolition at Borromeo estate peaceful

CEBU, Philippines - Except for occasional stone throwing, the demolition of the houses at the vast Borromeo Estate in Barangays Lawaan II and III in Talisay City, which lawyer Raul Sesbreño claims he owns, went peacefully yesterday.

“Wa ra may gubot gawas sa gamay nga bato-bato ganiha,” said Constancio Alimurung Jr., sheriff of the Regional Trial Court.

Alimurung who supervised the demolition said the stone throwing, which happened thrice, started at 10am until almost 11am. No one was harmed, he said.

The people who threw the stones at the demolition team were reportedly hiding behind a concrete wall. The stones were the size of a fist. Alimurung said the throwing stopped only when he asked the police to check the area where the stones were coming from. At least five uniformed PNP men from the Talisay City Police Station were deployed to secure the demolition.

As of 2pm yesterday, the seven-man demolition team brought down seven of the more than 40 houses in the area. Alimurung said the demolition may take up to two weeks because most the structures are made of concrete.

The demolition started Monday last week, but was stopped last Wednesday when Sesbreño’s wife Virginia and two others were ambushed in Barangay Cansojong while on their way to Cebu City.

Authorities believed that the killing was related to the seven-hectare Borromeo Estate, which Sesbreño has claimed the Borromeo heirs have paid him for his legal services. The property reaches to an adjacent village in Lawaan I.

September last year, at least 50 occupants of the private property claimed they were harassed by Sesbreño. These occupants are owners of structures built on the controversial Borromeo property along the national road in Barangay Lawaan II. The structures are currently being demolished. - THE FREEMAN