Friday, March 6, 2009 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
SINCE the property was used for a commercial purpose, Cebu City Hall will not be able to provide a relocation site or any assistance to the family who was evicted from a Province-owned lot in Sudlon, Barangay Lahug at this time.
City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said yesterday that Bernarda Laygan and her family have not only been residing in the property, they also have been doing business there by selling plants.
He said this is probably the reason why only the Laygans were sued by Capitol, excluding the 104 other members of the homeowners’ association occupying Province-owned lots in Sudlon.
“Most likely that is the reason she was sued because it’s not just her residence but she also used the property as a commercial area... so we will not act on it because the issue is not an urban poor issue because she used the land for business purposes,” Fernandez told reporters yesterday.
Recommendations
He said, though, that the City may help in the future if there are recommendations for it.
Acting Mayor Michael Rama said he will also ask Councilor Gerardo Carillo to look into the plight of the Laygan family and to find out how the City can help.
Plant business
Fernandez said the Laygans even have their own dump truck, which they use for their ornamental plants business.
“From what we see, initially, she’s not entitled to a relocation site or assistance because she even has a dump truck and the lot was not used mainly for a residential purpose,” he continued.
The Laygans’ house in Sudlon, Lahug was demolished by policemen and Capitol personnel last Wednesday morning after court sheriffs served the demolition order as a result of a case filed by Capitol.
City Councilor Edgardo Labella, legal counsel for the Laygans, requested the sheriff to hold the demolition until he could speak with Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Josephine Teves.
But because the judge was not in her sala when Labella went to see her, the demolition proceeded. (LCR)
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