IT WAS a temporary relief for owners of some 200 houses in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas, Cebu City when a court sheriff tasked to implement a demolition order did not show up on Monday, March 11.

In an Amended Notice to Implement the Writ of Execution/Writ of Demolition signed by Special Sheriff Nelson Sungahid, the owners of structures on Lot 937 were informed that the demolition that was previously shelved had been rescheduled on March 11 to 15.

Anne Martel, the president of Archangels Residents Mergence Inc. (Armi), said they will oppose the demolition.

Martel, along with other members of Armi, gathered outside their houses on Monday and waited for the sheriff to arrive.

But as of 3 p.m., the sheriff was a no-show.

Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, executive assistant of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, said the demolition should not push through as the Office of the Solicitor General (SolGen) had already intervened.

“It’s in the court already, and the City agrees with the position of the SolGen that the title of the private claimant of the lot was spurious. The Republic of the Philippines was not represented when the case was on trial. That’s why SolGen is fighting that the demolition will not push through,” Fernandez said. (RVC)