CEBU CITY – The former vice mayor of Minglanilla, Cebu and his three siblings were arrested for constructing a fence without necessary permits in Barangay Calaojan.
FORMER Vice Mayor Loben Geonzon. (FB)
Former Vice Mayor Loben Geonzon, former municipal Councilor and incumbent Barangay Tunghaan Councilor Lynette Geonzon, and Glenson Geonzon and Lonito Geonzon were arrested on Friday afternoon, Feb. 28, on warrants issued by Judge Albie Charisse Faith Sojor of the Municipal Trial Court in Minglanilla for alleged violation of Section 301 of Presidential Decree No. 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines.
“No person, firm, or corporation, including any agency or instrumentality of the government, shall erect, construct, alter, repair, move, convert, or demolish any building or structure or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a building permit therefor from the building official assigned in the place where the subject building is located or the building work is to be done,” PD 1096 said.
A group of residents filed the charges after the siblings ordered the construction of a fence in their property that prevented them from accessing their homes.
The local government of Minglanilla discovered that the construction of the fence did not have a permit. In June 2023 and March 2024, notices of illegal construction and violation were sent to the respondents but the construction of the fence continued, prompting the filing of charges against the Geonzons.
“From the evidence presented thus far, the undersigned finds that there is prima facie evidence to charge the respondent for violation of Section 301, Chapter 3 (Illegal Construction) of PD No. 1096 otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippines, and that there is reasonable certainty of conviction based on available witnesses and documentary evidence produced,” said Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Ivy B. Susvilla-Layson in her resolution approved by Provincial Prosecutor Ludivico Vistal Cutaran.
Bail was set at P12,000 for the accused. The siblings have posted bail.