Monday, December 18, 2006 Barangay dads maintain rights over Sto. Tomas lot
THE barangay council of Bakakeng Central reiterated that the houses built by individuals believed to have close links to ranking officials of the regional offices of the environment and public works departments are "illegal".
Barangay Chairwoman Helen Miranda said they already requested the City Building and Architecture Office (Cbao) to demolish the structures built by Arlene de Leon et al, but this was not acted upon despite the issuance of an order by the National Building Authority (NBA) that dismantling could take place because these houses were built on a road-right-of-way (Rrow).
"We asked the Cbao to cancel the building permit (then issued by the City Engineer's Office) but this was merely suspended," said Miranda, adding that the suspension of several Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) executives could also support their earlier request.
In relation to the illegal disposal of public lots, it may be recalled that in May 2005, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) suspended for 90 days former DPWH district engineer Nestor Nicolas and two others for their issuance of a document that certified that the lot, located at old Sto. Tomas Road, Bakakeng does not fall within the Rrow.
As a result, the DENR, then headed by regional executive director Isaias Barongan, issued provisional permits to the applicants. This allowed the building of the houses that was vehemently opposed by the barangay.
More than a year after the DPWH suspension order, DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes on November 2 suspended for 90 days Regional Technical Director Victor Cosalan, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Maximo Macli-ing, Engineers Teodoro Suaking, Nicomedes Mogamog and a certain Santiago Santiago for gross negligence, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The five were reportedly involved in the anomalous disposal of public land identified as Rrow and needed lands of Bakakeng Central.
The barangay council, meantime, is awaiting the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman with regard the criminal charges they filed against Barongan. (RO)
