Squatter buildings’ demolition at Baguio watershed stalled

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Demolition of squatter buildings at the Busol watershed were stalled anew after National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Cordillera hearing officer Brain Masweng granted the petition for writ of preliminary injunction of occupants.

This after the city government filed contempt charges against the hearing officer before the Supreme Court.

Masweng in two orders dated August 14 issued the writs of preliminary injunction against the city of Baguio, the city building and architecture office, the public order and safety division and the Baguio demolition team “ordering them to refrain, cease and desist from implementing Demolition Advice dated May 20, 2009, Demolition Order NO. 33 series of 2005, Demolition Advice dated July 20, 2009 and Demolition Order No. 69 series of 2002.

The demolition orders cover the structures of Alexander Ampaguey Sr., Julio Daluyen Sr., Conception Padang, Carmen Panayo, Magdalena Gumangan, Marion Pool, Lourdes Hermogeno, Bernardo Simon, Joseph Legaspi, Joseph Bastan, Marcelino Basatan, Josephine Legaspi and Lansigan Bawas.

As this developed, members of the city anti-squatting team headed by city administrator Peter Fianza conducted another walk-through of the squatted portions of the watershed last Wednesday to map out an effective demolition plan.

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. earlier said the city government has expanded the demolition plan into a two-year comprehensive plan to ensure that it will be sustained even with a change in the administration of the city mayor’s office.

The mayor said that new guidelines have been mapped out to ensure a more orderly and peaceful demolition undertaking and prevent scuffles that marred the previous operations with Fianza also appointed as crisis negotiator before demolition activities will be carried out.

The mayor maintained the city’s position that no ruling from lower courts or entities can supplant or overturn the Supreme Court decision giving the city government the imprimatur to pursue the long-delayed demolition.

Thus the city filed contempt charges against Masweng who earlier issued a temporary restraining order that snagged the implementation of the demolition order last July 28.