Hot water, feces prevent eviction of illegal settlers

Squatters living in a dilapidated concrete structure along Magallanes corner Lapu-Lapu streets yesterday successfully prevented the demolition team from destroying their shanties when they armed themselves with pails of hot water and human waste and threatened to use these against anybody who would insist to tear down their dwellings.

The illegal settlers comprised of 26 families quickly barricaded the entrance leading to their respective shanties to prevent the demolition team hired by the lot owner to destroy their dwellings.

Around 30 persons armed with hammers, iron bars, cutters and other tools arrived at the area yesterday morning and told the settlers that they were hired by the lot owner to demolish the shanties of the squatters who refused to leave the place.

The squatters complained because the demolition team failed to show them a court order authorizing them to tear down their houses. The demolition team headed by Christopher Ong was only armed with a letter, with a marginal note of Mayor Tomas Osmeña that allows for the “clearing up” of the area.

Ong is a City Hall employee assigned at the office of Vice Mayor Michael Rama and the cousin of the lot owner, Frederick Ong.

Frederick Ong sent a letter to Osmeña last year and asked that he be allowed to clear his lot of illegal settlers. The mayor made a marginal note on the letter saying “Ok for clearing up.”

But the squatters ignored the demand of the lot owner for them to vacate the place that some of them have already been occupying for decades. One of these illegal settlers claimed he started living in the area since 1960.

“Sakit na kaayo ang pagbiya dinhi sa dapit nga dugay na namong gipuy-an,” another said.

Somehow, the illegal settlers successfully convinced the demolition team to suspend its operation while they seek from Ong an extension of their stay in the area until March of 2008 in time for the closing of the school term/year.

“Amo na lang pahumanon og eskwela ang among mga anak hangtod sa Marso sunod tuig og mamahawa na mi dinhi,” an affected parent said.

The Archdiocese of Cebu used to own the place. But it was sold to Frederick Ong several years ago. Documents of the lot, however, show that the property is still in the name of its previous owner. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV