RTC suspends demolition, Sesbreño willing to wait

CEBU, Philippines - The demolition of houses occupying the controversial lots co-owned by Atty. Raul Sesbreño has been suspended by the Regional Trial Court due to motions filed by 8 of the 43 residents occupying the said lots.

But despite the suspension, Atty. Sesbreño remains tough in his intent to clear the area even as he respects the court’s order to suspend the demolition until the pending motions have been resolved.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18 Judge Gilbert Moises suspended the demolition originally scheduled to be implemented on Monday.

Sesbreño said he will not push through with the demolition because of the order affecting houses situated at Lot No. 3255-A and Lot 1 located at Lawaan III in Talisay City where he is also the co-owner.

“The parties were given five days to comment on the motions filed by respective counsels of the defendants,” Sebreño said.

However, Sesbreño said that as soon as the suspension is lifted, he prefers that a bulldozer will be used to speed up the demolition.

“Gusto nako bulldozer na lang para kausa ra, ang mga polis pwede dayun makatrabaho og lain kay dili na man madugay, (I want to use a bulldozer so that it will be demolished at one time so that the policemen can perform their other tasks right away because it would not take much time)” he said.

During yesterday’s hearing, Sesbreño pointed at the defendants repeatedly and called them “trespassers”, “squatters” and “intruders” whom he says “have no right to stay in the land owned by others, causing damage and prejudice to the land owner”.

“All squatters have no right to the possession. The lots do not belong to you,” he said while pointing at the defendants inside the courtroom.

He added that the defendants should stop filing motions which he said was a rehash and constitutes forum shopping.

Sesbreño added that he just wants to emphasize to the defendants that as co-owner, he has the right to recover the lots. He added that the defendants are now resorting to dilatory tactics as the case will become final and executory.

However, defense lawyer Basilio Duaban said that all Sesbreño did was claim the lots.

Atty. Nilo Balorio who is counsel of another set of defendants in the same case, said that before the petition was filed by Sesbreño, there was already a partition of the lot owned by the Borromeos.

In an earlier ruling, Moises affirmed the decision of RTC Branch 5 Judge Douglas Marigomen that Sesbreño is the legal owner and ordered the demolition of the houses and structures built inside the lot in question.

To recall, Sesbreño’s wife, Virginia died along with two others, after they were ambushed last February 1. The killings were believed to have been related to the demolition.  (FREEMAN)