THE barangay captain of Kamagayan in Cebu City has remained mum over allegations that the old barangay hall has been used as “boarding house” for residents.

Racquel Avila, Kamagayan barangay captain, has not responded to SunStar’s questions even after numerous attempts by this publication to her side on the issue.

On June 14, 2023, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ordered the police to investigate the claims that the old barangay hall in Kamagayan has been turned into a "boarding house."


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Avila, sought for comment on June 14, said she did not want to give any comment.

“No comment lang ko ana uy kamo nalay panginterview didto. Di na ko motubay anang iyang (mayor) mga estorya,” she said.

(I have no comment about that. I will not respond to the mayor’s statements.)

Violeta Mendoza, a barangay mediator, said the barangay hall started to move from the old building to a new one on D. Jakosalem Street in 2015 since documents would get damaged from the rain and other elements at the old barangay hall.

On June 16, Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said the Investigation and Detective Management Unit has released the result of its investigation and it was revealed that six people were found sleeping in the barangay hall with the permission of Avila.

It was later found out that the residents sleeping at the abandoned building were vendors affected by the closure of the van terminal in Barangay Kamagayan.

This, however, goes against the information gathered by SunStar Cebu, as this publication found outf that some residents have been staying at the barangay hall for around 10 years already. Sixteen residents are currently residing in the building.

"Gipapuyo lang ko diri sa kapitan kay wala man mi balay, since 2013 pa," said one of the residents who asked not to be named. (RJM)