By Chito Chavez
The Quezon City government has clarified that it is not behind last Saturday’s demolition of the shanties along Victory Avenue, Barangay Tatalon which left at least 30 families homeless.
Secretary to the mayor Ricardo “RJ’’ Belmonte explained the incident was an internal matter further expounding that the questioned lot is a private property.
In these cases, Belmonte stressed the city government has no power to intervene with the court’s decision on the ownership of the property.
“Pinag-usap-usap namin ang mga sangkot na partido at malinaw sa naging meeting na internal issue ito, at isang pribadong problema sa pagitan ng kung sino ang may-ari ng lupa (We discussed it with involved parties and it was clear during the meeting that it is an internal issue and a private concern among the lot owners),’’ Belmonte said.
In trying to mediate, Belmonte said the city government called for a meeting attended by Rebecca Genato, who claims to own the land, Tatalon Punong Barangay Rodel Lobo, representatives from the Galas Police Station, the Housing, Community Development & Resettlement Department (HCDRD) and the families affected by the recent demolition.
In the said consultation, Genato admitted to having asked the Galas Police for help.
Genato accused the families of trespassing and of allegedly rebuilding their shanties on her property even after they had already been previously torn down through the court order released by the Regional Trial Court branch 101, dated back in August 30, 2016.
The local government, hoping for a win-win solution, offered to provide housing to the affected families and put them under the city’s relocation program.
He explained, “Tutulong pa rin ang lokal na pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng relocation ninyo (The city government will still provide assistance by providing relocation sites)’’.
However, the affected families still vowed to fight it out in court, claiming that there is still a pending case at the Regional Trial Court branch 223 on who the rightful owner of the property is.