CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Several occupants of the illegal structures demolished by the city government in a relocation site at Zone 10, Calaanan, Barangay Canitoan here were eyeing that “politics” could have been the main reason behind the demolition.
MEMBERS of the city’s Task Group Demolition demolish illegal structures in a relocation site at Zone 10, Calaanan, Barangay Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, on Thursday, May 11. (Franck Dick Rosete)
“Sa akong tan-aw, gi-politika ni. Why man ako lang? (In my perspective, this was being politicized. Why am I the only one?)" said Ruby Madriaga, Zone 10 president, stressing that she has been allegedly reported by some residents in the same place who are supporters of the current administration.
A total of 12 stalls for vendors were demolished by the city government’s Task Group Demolition as vendors are not allowed in the said area designated as “open space.”
The demolition was part of the Department of Interior and Local Government’s directive to local government units (LGU) to clear the roads.
The said number of structures also didn’t have building permits, reason why their owner received a "notice of violation" from the Office of the Building Official.
Madriaga explained that in 2017, they asked for permission from the City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) to use the area for their livelihood, but the alleged approval from CHUDD had only been through “verbal” and had no proper documents.
Lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy, chairperson of the city’s Regulatory Compliance Board (RCB), who led the demolition team, said “verbal approval” couldn’t be used as proof, clarifying that the government won’t provide an approval if it’s prohibited.
The RCB chairperson also debunked the allegation that the demolition in Zone 10, Calaanan, Barangay Canitoan is politically motivated.
"Carmen man gani nga diha ang atong mayor gapuyo, nag-demolish man gani ta didto. Wala ni giingon nga gipili kay kontra-politika (Even in Carmen, where (Mayor Rolando Uy) is residing, we conducted demolition there. It didn't say that it was chosen because it’s anti-politics)," lawyer Uy said.
Uy confirmed that there are other areas in Barangay Canitoan that are set to undergo road clearing, as well as other areas in the city. He clarified that the task group couldn’t conduct a simultaneous demolition due to limited manpower.
The zone president, together with the other occupants, personally asked Mayor Uy during his People's Day program on April 26 this year to allow them to use the said area, but their request was accordingly rejected.
"Pasayloa ko mayor pero ipagawas gayud nako akong hinanakit. Dapat imo unta mi’ng gipaminaw mayor, dili lang unta ka one-sided. Palangga ka namo mayor (I'm sorry, mayor, but I will express my resentment. You should have listened to us, mayor, you shouldn't have been one-sided. We love you, mayor)," Madriaga said.
The RCB chairperson understood the situation of the affected occupants, but he asked for their understanding as they were also doing their job. Lawyer Uy has already coordinated with the CHUDD to profile the occupants to determine if there are still qualified for the housing program of the city government.
When asked about their plan after the demolition, Madriaga said they were considering elevating their concerns to Sen. Raffy Tulfo in his "Raffy Tulfo in Action."