CEBU, Philippines - Some members of Cebu City’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) are in hot water for using a government truck to destroy a concrete wall along Tres de Abril Street.
The Freeman’s former intern was able to capture the incident both on photo and video.
PROBE chief Raquel Arce said investigation is in order.
“Nakakita nako sa video. Ambot og ngano to. Binogo gyud to ilang gibuhat,” she told The Freeman.
It appeared, Arce said, that “there’s an intention” to hit the wall with the rear end of the truck because inadequate space constrained the first purported plan to pull it down with a rope.
“Gihigtan man og pisi (wall) aron birahon. Sa akong tan-aw apiki ang dalan niya ilang gibabag ang sakyanan. Pero nausban man, siguro there’s an intention,” she said.
She said the wall had to be destroyed following a complaint of the barangay council that it was encroaching on the sidewalk. She said the wall was shielding an abandoned structure and a notice of demolition was posted beforehand.
Arce said she will also refer the matter to the city’s Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) because there might be a chance that the personnel responsible may pay damages.
Arce emphasized that it was the first time an incident of such nature happened and PROBE has enough equipment for demolishing structures. Her personnel also underwent proper training in demolishing.
“First incident gyud to nga nahitabo. Gusto gyud ko maminaw sa ilang side ngano ila tong nabuhat,” she said.
“We have maso, kompleto man ta sa equipment. Ambot lang gyud og ngano tong pagkaunsaa,” she said. — (FREEMAN)