CEBU, Philippines - The maps that were brought to court hopefully to once and for all resolve whether Rosalina Village is part of barangay Labangon or Guadalupe did not really resolve the issue in court yet.
This is because maps supporting both claims were brought to court yesterday.
Sangguniang Panglungsod Secretary Jose Marie Poblete and Bureau of Land Management of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Geodetic Engineer James Fuentes presented maps to the court after they were subpoenaed by Judge Gabriel Ingles of the Regional Trial Court Branch 58.
Poblete, being the record-keeper of all proceedings of the city council, showed a map of urban barangays and a map from the Commission on Elections that apparently showed Rosalina Village being part of barangay Guadalupe.
However, Poblete also showed a map made for taxation purposes from the city assessor’s office that showed Rosalina Village belongs to barangay Labangon.
Fuentes showed a cadastral map, but there were no boundaries defined for barangays Labangon and Guadalupe.
The map brought by the DENR was made in 1951 when the barangays were not created yet.
The author of the bill to split barangay Guadalupe, Congressman Antonio Cuenco said that with the presentation of the maps, it just proves that Rosalina Village in indeed included in the barangay Guadalupe despite the taxation map.
He explained, that even with the tax map stating that residents from Rosalina Village have been paying their taxes in barangay Labangon, it does not mean that they are part of that barangay.
Cuenco said that the presence of the map from the city assessor’s office does not bother them in any way and they are optimistic that the issue would already come to an end in their favor.
He said that he is not doubtful that the exact geographical location of Rosalina Village would be resolved and would show that it is indeed part of Guadalupe.
Cuenco earlier aired out his concern that the complaint should not have been done in court since the city council would be the one to decide on boundary disputes.
It was, however, clarified by the petitioner’s counsel Ceasar Entise that there is no boundary dispute and that Labangon is the only one claiming Rosalina Village. — AJ de la Torre/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)