PCUP told: Back off from Apas lot row

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General has urged the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor to impose disciplinary action on its erring employees that reportedly submitted false certification signifying the completion of pre-demolition conference with residents of Lot 937 in Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

Solicitor General Jose Calida also asked PCUP Chairperson Alvin Feliciano to withdraw or not renew the certificate signifying the completion of the pre-demolition conference with the affected residents.

“The Republic strongly urge the PCUP to impose disciplinary action on its erring employees who may have committed false representation or submitted false certification that led to the issuance of the PCUP Certificate in question,” a portion of the letter read.

Apas Barangay Councilman Ramil Ayuman received the letter last week.

Ayuman said the demolition was scheduled from June 17 to June 28 but did not push through because the court sheriff failed to secure a clearance from the police.

“The state has not given up sa ownership sa land ug sa right to possess sa lot 937 kay nabayaran na nga yuta,” Ayuman told The Freeman.

To recall, the court issued the writ of execution/writ of demolition on Lot 937, a 4.5-hectare property in Sitio San Miguel occupied by 205 families of military men and retired soldiers. Calida, in his letter, said the state has not given up on its ownership and right to possess Lot 937 since 1938.

“Thus, we strongly urge the PCUP to proceed with extreme caution and follow the requirements imposed by law in its subsequent course of action,” he said.

He said the issuance of PCUP certificate signifying the completion of pre-demolition conference has “misled” the Philippine National Police that a “valid and complete” pre-demolition conference was done.

Calida said it was “premature, wrong, and irregular” to issue a certificate of the pre-demolition conference without the presence of the affected residents but only the representatives of the lot claimants.

The Lot 937 is the place where families of retired and active soldiers were allowed to build houses in 1960s. The court earlier granted the motion of Mariano Godinez, claimant of the property, to implement the writ of demolition of houses in the area.

It was in 2010 when Godinez, through his counsel, filed a case to claim Lot 937 which is being occupied by active and retired army personnel and their families.

The residents claimed that they have lived in the area for several decades already but they have not seen Godinez yet. — FPL (FREEMAN)