Sunday, December 02, 2007 Security issue divides Diamond residents By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY -- The establishment of guard posts and prohibition of vehicles without stickers from entering the compound has spawned a conflict between residents and the officers of the Diamond Homeowners and Residents Association (DHRA) in Barangay Balibago here.
The homeowners' association headed by its president, Norman Haynes, is now at loggerheads with businessman William "Meng" Kwong.
Haynes has assailed Kwong for the latter's alleged lack of concern for the welfare of the about 330 members of DHRA whom he said have lived in serious threat from crimes and discomfort for the lack of security measures in the subdivision in the past years.
Kwong earlier filed a petition before the Housing and Land Use and Regulatory Board (HLURB) seeking the removal of the restrictions placed by the DHAI at the "chokepoints" of the subdivision.
He said DHAI also imposed the "no sticker no entry" policy in the subdivision and required residents to buy stickers from the association.
Haynes, for his part, said Kwong should set aside his "vested interests," as the security measures will benefit the majority of residents.
An American who has lived in the country for 25 years, Haynes assailed Kwong for being insensitive to the needs of their neighbors. He explained that his group had put up the security improvements in response to the people's wish for peace in their subdivision.
Some residents here said the security measures put up by the DHRA has greatly reduced crimes and terrible noise that used to occur in the village until the early morning hours.
Some said Kwong's hotels inside the subdivision could have been affected by the stricter security measures, but he should also be considerate of the safety of residents.
Kwong, however, said he was not primarily concerned about the financial losses he suffered since August when DHRA put up the checkpoints. He explained that he just wants DHRA officers to follow the law and respect the rights of not just the complainant in the case but all the residents, especially those with small businesses who had been in the area and operating their stores long before Diamond was reclassified as Residential 1 (R-1) subdivision, a residential classification by virtue of an Angeles City Council Ordinance approved in 2003.
Kwong recalled that Haynes had immediately put up the gates and guards at the entrance of the subdivision following the dismissal by the HLURB of his petition against the DHAI without giving him the chance to file an appeal.
Editha Barrameda, HLURB regional officer, dismissed Kwong's case for "lack of merit.”
Kwong, a Filipino-Chinese trader, asked the government agency to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the "no sticker, no policy" rule implemented by Haynes and his fellow officers.
Haynes, project director of the Manila Exploration Co., said they put up the gates and assigned well-trained guards shortly after the HLURB junked the case against them.
"The records speak for itself. In a report, 314 DHRA members want us to secure the village with gates and our policies to secure the area. Only 13 are against (it) but the 12 are all along the street where Kwong and his family members reside," said Haynes.
Haynes disclosed that there had been no recorded crimes since Diamond Subdivision was secured compared to the previous years when all forms of criminality happened almost everyday.
The American also flatly denied the allegations in some radio reports that tricycles had been barred from entering the subdivision by guards.
He added that he had not closed down "even a single sari-sari store at Diamond."
"We have no power to close a store. Maybe they can check on the city government. Everyone can enter Diamond if they have an ID," he stressed.
Haynes said Kwong had "not been open to amicable settlement with the DHRA." He added that they had offered "remedies to help his motels get the same income like before but it has fallen on deaf and close minds."
Lilibeth Kwong, daughter of Kwong, said Friday that reporters could just interview owners of the other establishments and get other comments personally from his father. But the older Kwong could not be reached as of press time.
Stores selling beers, karaoke bars and other businesses thrive in Diamond. But residents have complained about the noise and several crimes in the subdivision before the gates were put up to control the entry of unwanted visitors.
Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting said the City Council is supporting the ban on illegal establishments in Diamond Subdivision in compliance with an existing ordinance passed in 2003 specifically for Diamond Subdivision.
In the council's regular session last Tuesday, majority of the councilors led by Councilor Dan Lacson vowed to help in the implementation of the 2003 ordinance classing Diamond into a Residential 1 subdivision.
The ordinance states that with the present classification of Diamond Subdivision into R-1, introduction of business establishments in an uncontrolled manner has been prohibited.
The committee on landed estate said, "For the record there will no more illegal businesses at Diamond." The committee has stated that it will support the said ordinance for the benefit of the residents.
Haynes, president of the Diamond Homeowners and Residents Association (DHRA), hailed the council "for adhering to the truth and considering the welfare of the people in general."
Lawyer Iluminida Libatique, legal counsel of DHRA, said they asked Councilors Rudy Simeon and Jay Sangil to pass a resolution calling for the "full implementation" of the said ordinance.
"That way it will have more teeth," added Libatigue who attended the council session last Tuesday.
Haynes, for his part, said a few DHRA members had failed to recognize their resolutions because 'it only came from a homeowner's association. "With the voice of the councilors, I am sure they will take the laws more seriously. I only want the best place for my neighbors - a haven teeming with serenity and decency. After all, at least 98 percent of the members want the DHRA officers to protect them," he added.
Sangil said they support the cleansing of Diamond because it is stipulated under the ordinance. "The majority supports the law at all cost," he added.
City Police Director George Gaddi met with Haynes on Tuesday night to discuss the situation at Diamond. Gaddi said the police will "always implement the law and ordinance be it in Diamond and elsewhere."
David David, planning officer IV and city zoning administrator, informed Haynes through a letter that 59 businesses are authorized to operate at Diamond based on a list that "came about after an ocular survey undertaken by this office during the processing of the request for the said reclassification."
Businesses established right after the ordinance was approved in February 2003 could not continue its operations. (Dante M. Fabian)
