ABOUT a hundred settlers in the Osmeña Shrine in Barangay Kalunasan staged a rally yesterday in front of the Cebu City Hall in protest of the recent clearing orders of the City Government.
Following the directives of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to clear the property, the Prevention Restoration Order Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) dismantled about 300 illegal structures last week.
The demolition, however, was not the first operation conducted in the property as then acting mayor Margarita Osmeña issued a clearing order last June since the families do not have the City’s permission to occupy the area.
The families, who built their houses in the shrine last March, claimed that the mayor authorized their construction, reportedly as campaign promise.
As this developed, the settlers, asked the mayor to provide them with relocation before the City completely tears down their houses.
They also expressed interest in meeting with the Evangelical Coalition of Cebu Inc. (ECCI), who is reportedly the new owner of the lot, to check the property’s donation and discuss their situation.
Osmeña, for his part, said that no relocation will be provided for the occupants as doing so would mean that the City tolerates the construction of illegal structures in government-owned lands.
He also maintained that the City still owns the 42,687-square-meter property despite having a deed of donation as the lot’s title was never transferred to ECCI.
Petition
Recently, the settlers filed a petition for declaratory relief for the court to rule if the clearing order issued is applicable in forest land such as the shrine.
the occupants, through lawyer Escolastico Daitol, also filed a separate complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.
In their petition for declaratory relief, the affected families want the court to determine if their houses are covered by the provisions of the National Building Code, which requires structure owners to secure building permits.
During yesterday’s regular session, Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., in a privilege speech, said the plight of the 400 families affected by the demolition is a manifestation of oppression of the poor.
“We appeal to the senses and feelings of Osmeña to humanely attend to the plight of the affected families and seek out ways, as soon as possible, to provide relocation,” he said.
