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Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Fencing of area hit by fire raises suspicion of arson
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia ordered the fencing of the 3,000-square-meter property near the South Bus Terminal that is within the area hit by a fire Saturday night, to assert Capitol’s “rights” as lot owner.
The move strengthened suspicions of residents in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City that the fire was “planned.”
Some 50 families are affected. They are members of the South Bus Terminal Homeowners Association, which has a pending case against the Capitol at the sala of Municipal Trial Court in Cities Executive Judge Francisco Seville Jr.
Paul Entera of the Real Estate Section of the Provincial Government General Services Office yesterday brought with him a team, made up of policemen and jail guards from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, to secure men from the Department of Engineering who put up posts for barbed wires at the site.
He said the order he received from Garcia was only to fence the property.
“There is really a need for additional space for a much-needed expansion of the terminal,” said Garcia, adding that fencing off the property will allow Capitol to “plan” for the “overdue” expansion.
In a press conference, Garcia said she met with Cebu City Administrator Francisco Fernandez.
“We talked with (Fernandez) to assist us should there be any need to clear the area, and I hope there would be no need, since we would be putting up a fence,” she said.
“That property belongs to the Provincial Government and as owners, we need to assert our rights over it, and we need to secure the property,” the governor said.
Civil Security Officer 3 Valentino Cruz, who led the security group, said he was only told to provide security for the engineering personnel.
Officials of the association denied reports that their homes were subject to a demolition at the time of the fire, as a hearing has been scheduled on the case on Dec. 6.
“What they probably meant by that demolition were the illegal structures that blocked the road right-of-way to the property, not our homes, because the case is still pending. The court has not ordered us to vacate the property,” said Ethel Fajardo, wife of the association’s vice president.
She added other association officials will seek help from Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
Fajardo said they will only leave the property when they lose the case. “For now, we’re still fighting it out,” she said.
Refused
The occupants are claiming that the administration of then governor Emilio Osmeña promised to sell them the lot. But when then governor Pablo Garcia sent them notices to vacate and be relocated to Barangay Kalunasan through the
Pagtambayayong Foundation, the settlers refused and went to court.
Manuel Castro, secretary of the association, said the ongoing construction by engineering personnel from Capitol made him believe they will no longer be allowed to occupy the property now.
But he believes they have a case against Capitol.
“Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act, which provides that idle lands owned by the government and not used for over 10 years, may be turned over to the National Housing Authority for socialized housing,” he said.
Castro also said he suspects foul play could be involved.
“It’s possible that a flammable material has been thrown into the house of (Ernesto) Agapay,” he said.
Castro and other witnesses to the incident corrected earlier reports that the fire started in the house of Agapay, a History professor at the University of Cebu.
Ronnie Sarmiento, president of the association of legitimate stallholders at the South Bus Terminal, said indications point to a kitchen of the extension of some stalls as the source of the fire that leapt to Agapay’s roof.
Ashamed
Agapay, who has been occupying the Capitol’s property for more than 20 years, talked to Sun.Star Cebu yesterday to clear his name.
“I am very ashamed that my name was mentioned. My co-teachers and the deans of different colleges in the university can attest that I was in a meeting at the office of Atty. (Augusto) Go last Saturday afternoon and then I went to hear mass at the Sto. Rosario Church. How could I burn my own house? I don’t cook and I don’t use a kerosene lamp,” Agapay said.
Agapay lost almost P1 million in paintings; jewelry; his pet dogs, a Dalmatian and a Rottweiler; clothes; and appliances.
Some helpers at the terminal also said fire trucks could have entered the depot, as this was already deserted when the fire broke.
Firemen could have a good vantage point from the roof of the stalls and fight the blaze at the other side of the concrete walls of the terminal, they said.
“We don’t know why they closed the terminal. The fire trucks could have entered there and firemen could scale the roofs,” a dispatcher said.
Aside from its property at the fire site, the Capitol also plans to develop its other lots to bring in more revenues.
Garcia said Capitol already informed all settlers of other Province-owned properties such as those Sudlon and Banilad to vacate the areas. (GAC/JPM)
(November 8, 2005 issue)
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