City maintains ownership claim over City Zoo lot

CEBU - City Hall finally answered the provincial government’s demand letter for the city to vacate the property currently occupied by the City Zoo in barangay Kalunasan.

In its formal response, the city said it will maintain possession, operation, and maintenance of the zoo, which belongs to the city.

Acting Mayor Hilario Davide III said the city has legal and valid grounds to continue possessing the seven-hectare City Zoo.

“We will continue to possess, operate, and maintain the zoo. Mao gyud na ang baruganan sa atong dakbayan ever since nga nitumaw nang maong issue,” Davide said.

But Capitol consultant on information Rory Jon Sepulveda said there is actually no question as to who owns the property or who owns the zoo. What is being disputed, he said, is the city’s refusal to return the property to the province, which has legal and valid grounds to possess it.

“They have stated in their answer to our demand letter that they have valid and legal grounds. As to what their basis is for saying so, they have not stated that in their answer,” Sepulveda said.

Sepulveda said that since the province owns the property, it follows that it should be the one to possess it, not the city.

“We want possession of the property which the city refused,” he said.

Once the property goes back to the province, Sepulveda said the Cebu Women’s House will be constructed there. The province is reportedly willing to go to court to reclaim the property.

“Kung managlahi ang among posisyon dili man pwede nga magpatas-anay mi sa ihi, ikiha gyud na sa korte, mao nay logical nga consequence,” Sepulveda said.

Earlier, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the city will not bow to the demand of the province, unless the court says so.

Nevertheless, Sepulveda is optimistic that the province can reclaim the property through more diplomatic rather than legal means. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Elly Bolonos of Banat News/JMO (THE FREEMAN)