The mayor promised to pursue the demolition of illegal structures in various areas, especially the endangered Busol watershed reversing earlier executive decision to shelve demolition activities in the area due to legal questions.
He said he already directed City Legal Officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes to reissue all demolition orders in the area. He said they are also prepared to face legal suits expected to swamp the city once the campaign is pursued.
As to the case of squatters within Cypress Point in Barangay Irisan here who staged a rally in front of the Office of the Mayor on Thursday to protest Bautista's order sustaining the demolition of their structures, the mayor agreed to thresh out the issue with all the parties in a dialogue set on January 16.
Bautista assured that the city will continue observing due process in the implementation of demolition activities and will not resort to unfair and discriminatory demolition practices.
At present, the city's demolition procedures are well placed, starting from receipt of the complaints to the process of investigating and issuing the dismantling orders.
The City Legal Office (CLO) said all parties concerned are given ample and fair chance to defend their positions on the issue. Upon receipt of the complaint, the city through the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) and the City Buildings and Architecture Office (Cbao), conducts a thorough investigation on the case. All parties are given equal opportunities to air their positions through the hearings conducted by the anti-squatting and illegal structure committee chaired by the city legal officer. (AR)
