Ermita clearing blocked anew

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama has directed the Cebu City lawyers to determine the possible legal action that they can take against those persons who tried to block the clearing operations in Sitio Bato, Ermita.

City lawyer Leslie Ann Reyes already took the statements of Raquel Arce, head of the City Hall clearing team, as part of the supporting documents in the filing of charges.

But Reyes refused to reveal the names of the possible respondents, saying that they are still gathering other evidence to support the filing of the case.

“Ikiha g’yud na sila,” the mayor said yesterday.

Arce said when her personnel went to Quezon Boulevard shortly before 8 a.m. yesterday to resume the clearing operation, a vehicle was parked at the road leading to Sitio Bato preventing entry of the pay loader.

After reporting the incident to the mayor, Arce immediately met with Reyes and Alvin Santillana of the City Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management to discuss other legal and technical remedies.

However, before their meeting ended, the vehicle that was parked in the middle of the road was pulled out  by its owner.

According to Reyes, it was already established that there are some persons who want to block the clearing operation by barricading the entrance to Sitio Bato and the pay loader was destroyed by unidentified persons.

The mayor explained that his order to clear the area will benefit the families affected by the recent fire because the sitio will have wider access road and the lots for the residents will be equally divided to each of the beneficiaries.

Arce said the clearing team wants to finish their job before the 20-day period set by the mayor so that they can start rebuilding their houses.   (FREEMAN)