Demolition of 7 Apas houses legal — DWUP

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government clarified that the seven structures in Barangay Apas that were demolished were not part of coverage protection by the government as they occupy a private lot whose owner has recently been favored by the court.

This is according to Cebu City's Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) head Ronald Anthony “Butch” Librando.

The issue came after a demolition was undertaken last Tuesday morning in Purok 6, Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas, Cebu City. According to Librando, occupants showed resistance during the demolition.

He said the demolition is the implementation of the court's decision following their issuance of the certificate of non-coverage of the said lot. He expounded that there is a special law that covers protection for the homeless or underprivileged or those considered under the category of urban poor under Republic Act 7279.

Those who may be affected by a court-ordered demolition will not fall under the category of homeless, and the underprivileged are not covered by the protection of relocation among other government assistance.

"Kaning mga structures (demolished), commercial ni siya, ‘nya naa lagi nagpuyo kay gipaabangan, mga tindahan, prutasan man na sauna, kan-anan naman na ‘ron, ‘nya ang sud kay mga boarding house...so dili ma-covered sa RA 7279," he said.

In line with this, Librando said they were asked by the court to issue a certification of non-coverage. According to him, it was a privately-owned lot that was being occupied and built with commercial structures. He added that they cannot provide a relocation site for them as mandated by the law.

Librando further said that there will also be claims that the said area is an extension of the military camp and is being expropriated, but he said that up until this writing the title to back these claims has yet to be presented.

"Naay part sa kampo, naa say part nga dili, ‘nya naa say part nga natitulohan og private persons, so kana siya (demolished area), natitulohan na’g private persons," said Librando.

He also said that areas right beside the demolished houses were also privately-owned and were being occupied.

"Kanang linyaha dira, mo-ingon na sila’g part sila sa airport sauna... ‘nya mao lagi na gi-file-lan og kaso ‘nya mudaog man gud ‘ning mga private," said Librando.

As there was resistance on the part of the occupants during the demolition, Librando clarified that they were given notice before the demolition.

He admitted that the occupants sought help from the city government for this case to no avail as the law cited that they were ruled as non-coverage. — (FREEMAN)