Laarni’s father threatens to demolish graves in Caloocan land conflict

For brothers Joseph and Francisco Ong, it may very well be the last time they get to visit their father’s grave in Eternal Gardens – unless they and other grave owners cough up millions to buy back the lots they claim they already own.

According to Francisco, Alfonso Enriquez, father of former actress and President Estrada’s mistress Laarni Enriquez, has threatened to demolished hundreds of graves in a portion of the memorial park anytime soon.

The Ongs said that they came face to face with Enriquez and his lawyers in a meeting at a Quezon City hotel earlier this month, and added that Enriquez’s lawyer, Napoleon Galit, told them that the graves will soon be demolished to pave way for "his client’s personal interests."

"Enriquez, who says he co-owns this portion of the park, is demanding at least P100,000 from us. But this burial lot is already paid in full," Ong said.

Ong’s lament is shared by hundreds of other grave owners, who claimed that Enriquez harassed them by hiring armed guards to prevent them from entering the memorial park.

But Enriquez gave them permission to visit their loved ones – at least until All Soul’s Day. After that, it is up to the dominantly Chinese grave owners to either buy back the lots or not.

The STAR visited yesterday the memorial park but had difficulty interviewing Ong because Enriquez’s representative and administrator Eugenio Lingad insisted that The STAR talk to a certain Roberto Go.

In a telephone interview, Lingad said it was unnecessary to get Ong’s side because he is too biased against Enriquez and is "too fond of telling false stories to the media."

Go, however, was nowhere to be found.

The case stemmed from a Supreme Court decision two years ago that nullified Eternal Gardens as owner of a portion of the memorial park and voided any sales of properties there they make.

The decision put the grave owners’ claim that they legitimately bought the burial lots in jeopardy.

The Chinese grave owners are now set to form an association next week which will try to "seek some justice" through legal means.

In the meantime, the Ongs, and the rest of the grave owners, will have to be content with the little time they were allowed to spend with their departed relatives.