City team forces way into BFP-7 offices

CEBU, Philippines - The conflict between the Cebu City Government and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-7 turned uglier yesterday after members of the City Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) team forcibly removed the beds of BFP personnel from inside their headquarters yesterday.

The Probe team’s action was upon the instruction of Mayor Michael Rama, who said in his order was “in the interest of public service”.

“You are hereby to cause the removal of all items surreptitiously and forcibly moved in by Senior Superintendent Ma. Luisa Hadjula and her staff and to transfer the same to Cebu City Sports Complex,” read part of his memorandum to Probe Chief Raquel Arce.

Arce and her team went to the BFP building past 5 p.m. with five trucks that were supposed to bring the BFP personnel’s belongings to the city sports complex.

Hadjula, BFP-7 director, received a directive from the Department of Interior and Local Government head office yesterday for her not to leave their post, as they are on red alert for the super-typhoon Yolanda.

She directed her staff to watch over their equipment and belongings and not to let the City Hall personnel to remove them forcibly.

“Stay put ang mga equipment; stay put everybody for any further order from DILG and no one will contradict with my order. Never accept communications from the local government because we are not under them.  We are under the national government. We are not under the mercy of the City of Cebu,” Hadjula reminded her personnel.

While she was addressing her men, however, the Probe team was removing the very equipment and belongings she wanted to protect after Rama’s order was shown to her.

“Ibalik nyo yan (Return our beds). Idedemanda ko kayo, that is (I will sue you; those are) our property.  I will file a case against you. This is our station, you have no respect. Hindi kayo makatao (You are inhumane). (You are) tress-passing kayo. Umalis kayo (You must leave),” Hadjula shouted at the Probe team.

Arce denied shoving Hadjula during the resulting commotion when the latter obstructed their way.

The BFP personnel and the Probe team members ended up shouting at each other after BFP fought and forcibly took back the beds taken by the demolition team.

Hadjula explained that she just wanted to have the four rooms CCMC was using for their Oplan Paghalasa; Rama disagreed on this, saying it is inappropriate as the rooms were being used for a temporary hospital.

The 45-year-old CCMC building at the corner of  N. Bacalso Ave. and Panganiban St. was among those affected by the 7.1 earthquake that struck Bohol and Cebu last Oct. 15.

Rama had the building evacuated and the hospital to temporarily occupy portions of the BFP-7 headquarters. The City now wants to use the whole building, being the owner of the lot where it stands. BFP-7 is contesting the claim.

Yesterday, Rama instructed City Attorney Jerone Castillo and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who is also a lawyer, to look into the legal aspect of the standoff.

Castillo also reiterated the mayor’s stand that it should be the CCMC that should occupy the whole BFP-7 building and that the hospital should not share it with its original occupants.

“Any personnel, area, or facility of CCMC cannot be transferred, displaced or moved. And sharing of the premises occupied presently by CCMC cannot and should not be effected as of this time and under the foregoing circumstances,” he said in a letter Hadjula. (FREEMAN)