The planned demolition of houses in an area  in Barangay Cupang in Muntinlupa did not push through on Friday, Aug. 29, after the Muntinlupa City government filed a motion in court to stop it. 

Mayor Ruffy Biazon went to the Acero–ICC-Sto. Nino area in Barangay Cupang, the subject of a court-ordered demolition. The property is owned by Ayala Steel. 

Biazon said the demolition was not implemented until the urgent motion to stay execution filed by the city government is resolved by the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 115. 

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon (left) talks to residents in Barangay Cupang on Aug. 29 (Screenshot from Mayor Biazon's video)

The mayor has been holding dialogues with the families that will be affected by the demolition, Ayala Steel, and the Pasay court sheriff. 

The court issued a final order of execution that will pave the way for the demolition of houses in the area. 

In the urgent motion to stay execution filed by the Muntinlupa Legal Office with the Pasay court, the city government said Biazon “conducted a surprise inspection on the properties subject matter of execution and personally witnessed the tension therein, and even received reports of harassment committed by security guards presumably hired by the Plaintiff for the purpose of implementing or enforcing the Special Order and/or execution of judgment of this Honorable Court.” 

These issues were raised by Biazon during a meeting with the sheriff “and found lack or absence of definite plan of action and/or preparation, particularly as regards, the accountability of the security guards, in the guise of implementing or enforcing the Special Order and/or execution of judgment of this Honorable Court.” 

Without intervening in the case, the city government said as part of its “duty to ensure the general welfare,” it is asking the court “to stay the execution or implementation of judgment until such time that the Sheriff of this Honorable Court together with the concerned government agencies has come up with a definite plan of action thereof while securing the rights of the parties and preventing commotion or chaos that would affect the peace and order of the City of Muntinlupa, in compliance with Section 28 of UDHA and the procedures stated in the preceding section.” 

For one, the city government said, there are “children who are currently in school or students therein will be displaced upon the implementation of Orders of this Honorable Court, which should be taken into consideration.” 

It is asking the court “to immediately Stay the Execution or Implementation of the Omnibus Resolution dated February 1, 2023 rendered by this Honorable Court lifting the suspension of the judgment and the Order dated April 15, 2019 recalling the Order dated March 27, 2018, until such time that an Agenda on the Plan of Action is already prepared and ironed out for the implementation or execution of Judgment of this Honorable Court in accordance with laws and the Rules, without necessarily sacrificing the welfare and safety of the people involved being residents of Muntinlupa, as well as, the peace and order in the City of Muntinlupa.”