Urban poor wants Cabrera investigated

CEBU, Philippines - An urban poor organization of Barangay Luz asked the Visayas Ombudsman to investigate Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera for allegedly using her power to evict occupants of a government-owned lot in the barangay.

The group also included in their complaint one Diosdada Martinez, a staff of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.

Generosa Corbeta, president of the Barangay Luz Urban Poor Fraternal Organization (BLUPFO), said they want the matter investigated as they believe the two officials are involved in corruption when they are supposed to help the urban poor.

Barellano, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said Cabrera, in her capacity as member of the council’s housing committee, and Martinez used their power to remove them from the government-owned lots they are occupying.

The two-page complaint addressed to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol and Mayor Michael Rama, was filed yesterday.

“We are thus filing our complaint against the aforesaid government employees for violation of laws against squatting syndicates and professional squatting. They have used their position in the government to facilitate professional squatting,” read the complaint signed by Corbeta, Lucena Fabular, the vice president and Bebie Barellano, the secretary.

Barellano said Cabrera and Martinez allegedly facilitated the delisting of 32 households from their roster.

“For households that are yet to be demolished, Cabrera and Martinez have provided a list of prospective assumes/occupants who do not reside in the barangay, have already owned houses in other places and are therefore not qualified to assume our lots,” read their complaint.

Barellano said there are already houses that were demolished even if they have expressed willingness to pay the government for the lot they are occupying.

Barellano added her in-laws, who have been living in the area since 1956, also have the right to fight for the lot that was given to them by then President Ramon Magsaysay when their stalls in Taboan Public Market was hit by a fire a year before his plane crashed in Cebu.

Barellano said they have no documents to prove that her family has legal rights over the property because Magsaysay died before a title was issued to them.

Since they have been living in the area for several decades, they are asking the government to allow them to buy the lot. Cabrera could not be reached for her comment yesterday. — (FREEMAN)