Punta folk ask Ombuds to stop city move to manage basketball court

CEBU, Philippines - A homeowners association is asking the Office of the Ombudsman – Visayas to stop the city government from putting under its control – or to the barangay – the management of a basketball court in Barangay Punta Princesa.

The Punta Princesa Mangahan Homeowners Association, Inc. sought the Ombudsman’s help following an alleged threat from the city to padlock the basketball court.

Rudy Into, a member of the association’s Board of Directors, said the city cannot be the one to manage the basketball court because it does not own it.

“The funds used in the construction of the covered basketball court were neither from the city government nor from the barangay but from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel of former congressman Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City south,” Into said.

He said that even the Barangay Council passed a resolution approving the appointment of the group’s president, Alejandro Tabelino, as caretaker of the gym.

Earlier, the Office of the Mayor issued an order to clear the illegal structures in the area and for the association to surrender the management of the basketball court voluntarily to the barangay captain. The order said the association has three days to comply with the order upon receipt of the document.

The basketball court was constructed last year.

Into said the association, as well as residents from neighboring areas, have benefitted from the free use of the basketball court.

“We offered free services. The people can use light especially in the evening. In fact, it’s fully book all the time,” he said.

The association has appealed to Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol to stop Rama’s order. A separate appeal was sent to the mayor.

The homeowners association has 175 members.  (FREEMAN)