AROUND 200 families in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas, Cebu City may lose their homes due to a court order demolition.
But the families, who are members of Archangels Residents Mergence, Inc. (Armi) are against it, saying it violates their Constitutional right to due process as they were not given the chance to be heard in court.
Members of Armi are also asking the City Government to assist them in pursuing the case, particularly that the Office of the Solicitor General has already intervened.
In an interview, Anne Martel, Armi president said they never had the chance to talk to Mayor Tomas Osmeña but in 2012, the mayor, who was then congressman in the south district assured them that he will help them.
“The residents are still hopeful to the promised made by the mayor before,” Martel told SunStar Cebu.
In an Amended Notice to Implement the Writ of Execution/Writ of Demolition signed by Special Sheriff Nelson Sungahid, members of Armi and other structure owners built on Lot 937 were informed that the demolition that was put on hold before was rescheduled on March 11 to 15.
“In this connection, your cooperation is highly appreciated to avoid undue inconvenience on your part. In case on said dates, the weather is not good, the implementation of the Writ of Demolition will be made on the following day if the weather is good,” read portion of the notice.
In a letter to Armi, Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, executive assistant of Osmeña, assured the families that the City will support them on their stand against the execution of the demolition because the demolition must comply with the requirements provided by law.
“The City will continue to support the position of the Solicitor General and will likewise endeavor to do whatever it is legally to prevent the impending demolition of the structures in Lot 937,” a portion of the letter read.
Earlier, the Regional Trial Court granted the motion of Mariano Godinez, who claimed to be the owner of the lot, to implement the writ of demolition of houses on the latter’s 4.5-hectare property in Sitio San Miguel.
In his decision, Judge Alexander Acosta said the trial of the case has been pending for 20 years already that resulted to the delayed execution of the court's decision.
The demolition came after the case filed by Godinez, through his counsel, to get back Lot 937, which is being occupied by 189 families who are mostly active and retired soldiers of Armed Forces of the Philippines and police officers of the Philippine National Police since 1997.
A resurvey of the property showed that there are 204 families presently occupying Lot 937. (RVC)