BF Homes residents protest opening of gates
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 11:52 a.m.) — A big number of residents of BF Homes Subdivision in Parañaque conducted yesterday a motorcade rally as they continued to oppose the opening of its gates to the public.
Last August, the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) issued an injunction against the subdivision’s “no sticker, no entry” policy.
The HSAC also ordered the unobstructed entry and exit of vehicles through the gates of Aguirre Avenue, Elizalde street, El Grande Avenue, Concha Cruz and Tropical streets.
Homeowners sought a regulation in the entry of non-BF Homes residents in the gated subdivision.
Event organizers said 1,423 vehicles joined the rally.
In an interview with The STAR, Jeffrey Sapnu, president of Teodoro Evangelista Homeowners’ Association (TEHA), said they conducted the protest to “exert their right to secure the gates of the subdivision.”
“The HSAC considered only 10 people who petitioned to open the gates of the subdivision. How about the 60,000 homeowners who are concerned about their security? We were not consulted about the matter,” Sapnu said.
TEHA vice president Leng Gador said some homeowner associations pooled their resources to regulate the gates of the subdivision.
“Crimes still happen even if the gates are closed. What more if these are opened?” he asked.
Lawyer Jojo Batiller, legal counsel of the 17 initial homeowner associations which tried to take over the control of the five gates, said most of the residents of BF Homes are in favor of regulating the entry of non-residents in the subdivision.”
“The petitioners in the HSAC case do not represent the sentiments of the BF homeowners regarding the opening of the subdivision’s main gates to the public,” Batiller said.
In a separate interview, lawyer Efren Cordero, one of the petitioners, described the rally as an “act of desperation.”
Cordero said the BF Federation of Homeowners Associations Inc. (BFFHAI) should not be asking for money for stickers from non-residents to pass through the subdivision because the roads in the area are public infrastructure.
The BFFHAI earlier charged residents P250 per car sticker. Non-residents were charged P2,000.
Cordero urged the homeowners to abide by the HSAC order, which has been hailed by non-resident motorists for allowing them to bypass heavy traffic in southern Metro Manila. The non-residents note that only five streets are covered by the order.
“The rule of law must prevail. They should not ignore the HSAC order,” he said.
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