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Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Army evicted illegal settlers in Oro camp
By Danilo V. Adorador III
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Tension gripped Camp Evangelista Monday as Army personnel clad in full battle-gear and two battle tanks guarded a camp perimeter where hundreds of illegal settlers were being evicted.
Leaders of the illegal settlers -- consisting 120 homes -- had hoped to delay the demolition by seeking intervention from local officials and announcing that on the way was a court order stopping the demolition.
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But no such help arrived.
A temporary restraining order (TRO) application filed by the settlers to delay the demolition had been denied as early as March this year.
Court papers obtained by Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro show that on March 22, Regional Trial Court Branch 10 had denied the petition of the Zone 8 Patag Extension Settlers Association Inc. to stop the planned demolition.
The court opined that the petitioners had failed to establish the existence of a "clear and positive right, which should be judicially protected."
The same stance was similarly taken by the Solicitor General when the hierarchy of the Fourth Infantry Division (4ID) sought comment on the issue when it first warned the settlers to vacate the area late last year.
In his response dated January 3, Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura said the camp's illegal settlers "can be summarily evicted without court intervention" pursuant to previous similar decisions of the Supreme Court (SC).
Still, the settlers decried the "fire-power" showed by the military during the demolition and accused the military of "intimidation."
Marilou Cadurnigara, the settlers' association president, said the Army overreacted in deploying soldiers around the demolition area.
But Major Samuel Sagun, 4th ID public affairs officer, defended the move, saying it was meant to "show authority" and prevent "external forces from taking advantage of the situation."
The demolition was just a compliance of a Department of Defense order seeking to reduce illegal occupants within military camps by 15 percent per quarter, Sagun said.
He added: “Out of humanitarian consideration, 4th ID has not complied with the order since it came out last year.”
Sagun said the camp's illegal settlers -- who are "former military officers living with their dependents" -- had been informed of the plan since November 2006.
Illegal settlers occupy around 14 percent of Camp Evangelista's 30 hectare area, the Army official added. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (October 2, 2007 issue)
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