Councilor: Mahiga settlers’ case against Rama a test of nat’l demolitions policy

A LAWYER from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) head office is coming to Cebu this week to wrap the investigation of illegal demolition charges against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Lawyer Angel Ojastro of the DILG legal office in Manila said in an e-mail to councilor Alvin Dizon that he is “looking into ways on how to effectively stop LGUs from evicting people.”

Dizon said the Mahiga Creek demolition has become a “test case” for demolitions that may also be implemented elsewhere in the country.

“This will become a mirror for future demolitions, a basis for the policy direction of the city,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Mayor Michael Rama ordered the clearing of 32 structures along the Mahiga Creek in sitio San Isidro II, barangay Mabolo, last month

The affected families built makeshift shelters along A. Soriano Street across the creek, which they occupied since the start of the clearing on May 2 but even these were torn down yesterday.

Sixteen of the affected families transferred to a temporary shelter, which the city set up in Block 27 in the city’s North Reclamation Area.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros also told Dizon in a text message that that DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo said Ojastro is coming to Cebu this week. /Chief Of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac