Aquino, Binay urged to stop demolition of retired soldiers' houses

MANILA, Philippines - A group of retired military officers urged President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday to stop the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) from demolishing their houses in Taguig City.

In a letter to Aquino and Binay, retired colonel Benjamin Zabat, president of the Consular Area Residents Association, Inc., questioned the authority of BCDA president Arnel Casanova to implement the demolition of their houses since they are not within the jurisdiction of the BCDA.

Zabat also said it is BCDA chairman Felicito Payumo, not Casanova, who has the authority to act as president of the BCDA under Section 9 of Republic Act 7227, the law creating the BCDA. He thus has no authority to order the demolition, Zabat added.