ROGER Sinot has sought help from the Commission on Human Rights on issue surrounding a parcel of land in Asin in Tuba, Benguet.
In a letter of CHR regional director Rommel Daguimol, Sinot is asking for the immediate assistance of the agency to resolve what he believes is a violation of human rights by the City Government of Baguio for the act of padlocking entrances in the contested Asin property.
Sinot implored to the CHR assistance to what he described as “inhuman and oppressive acts of the city government in the implementation of a court decision in an unlawful detainer case.”
Sinot said only the CHR can help him to stop ‘the very powerful and influential city government from intruding into our private property in Asin, Tuba, Benguet. The concrete barricade they installed and the gate they padlocked are both found in our property and so this is really an unfathomable disregard of human rights.”
Sinot added Baguio City on November 29 sent workers to install a concrete fence on the very entrance for his residence “thus detaining and imprisoning those left at home and customers who were then enjoying dipping their bodies in the hot bath tub. The first gate to our property was also padlocked to ensure no one could get out.”
He is also complaining on acts of the city’s Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) who installed the fence and barricade saying it is unlawful and has sowed fear among the people in his Asin property.
The city and Sinot has been in a legal battle on the Asin property for decades.
Last year, the city implemented the eviction order against Sinot over the city-owned property but it was learned he is still allegedly benefitting from the operation of the city-owned swimming pool, thus, the need to implement the fencing of the property and the eventual award of the management of the swimming pool to a partner that will guarantee the protection of its rights in the area.
The city is bent on invoking its rights over the Asin property because it is one of its potential income-generating projects as added source of internally generated funds for development projects and improved delivery of basic services to the city constituents now and in the future.
Previously, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the municipality of Tuba is aware the property is owned by the city which has been made public since it was developed and improved and leased to Sinot.
Domogan made a litany of cases filed and won by the city over Sinot’s claim and said the courts have ruled with finality, with the last case for the ejectment of Sinot from the property.
Domogan added despite the legalities, Sinot continued to operate and occupy the sites which forced the city to fence the area last week to fortify existing fences in the area.
Last year, the fences were allegedly taken down by Sinot.