CEBU CITY – Officials and employees of the Mandaue City government were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly illegally entering a property and padlocking the complainant inside.
Maria Priscilla Melendres filed complaints for arbitrary detention, violation of the Republic Act (RA) 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, Administrative Code of the Philippines specifically oppression, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and Bill of Rights of the Constitution.
MARIA Priscilla Melendres shows the complaint that she filed against officials and workers of Mandaue City. (Calvin D. Cordova)
Charged were lawyers Julius Caesar Entice and John Bee Biton, assistant city assessor and officer-in-charge of the Housing and Urban Development Office, respectively; Teodorico Montejo II, head of Janitorial and Security Services Unit (JASU), and at least 30 other personnel of JASU.
Melendres said she filed the criminal and administrative complaints after the respondents broke into her property in Barangay Paknaan on May 3.
The respondents presented a notice of demolition when they arrived, Melendres said.
Once inside, the respondents padlocked the two gates of the property that prevented her from going out.
Melendres said the respondents were not authorized to enter his property and tear down structures inside.
She said a tax declaration that she possesses is proof that she is the rightful owner of the property.
Melendres, who filed the complaint on July 24, also asked the anti-graft court to suspend the respondents for 90 days.
Sought for comment, Entice belittled the charges filed against them.
Entice said they were just following orders from the city government to clear the property.
Contrary to Melendres’ claims, the area is already owned by the city government, Entice said.
Entice said Melendres cannot claim ownership of the area since it is described as timberland.