A demolition team starts destroying houses in Sitio Talisay, Barangay Camiing in Cabangan, Zambales on Wednesday, April 17. (Contributed photo)
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — The 52 families displaced by the demolition carried out at Sitio Talisay, Barangay Camiing in Cabangan town in this province will be relocated and given aid by the local government and the owner who claimed back his land.
Cabangan Mayor Ronald Apostol said at least a hundred houses and seven resorts would be demolished, and only the 52 affected families would be relocated to a 5,000-square-meter lot within the 11-hectare land that was claimed by the owner.
“Only 52 were on the list because they were the ones who cooperated to be interviewed. Now it appears that there are more, so I am asking the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) to fix it, and I will see if I can talk to the lawyers to expand the relocation site by 2,000 square meters more,” Apostol told the Inquirer on Thursday, April 18.
Aside from the relocation site, the 52 displaced families would receive P27,000 each from the owner of the land, said Apostol.
READ: 52 houses in Zambales town face demolition
“But Cong. Bing Maniquiz and I will return there to also give cash to everyone, not just the initial 52 [families]. All affected families will be given,” the mayor added.
The residents set up a barricade at the entry point of the sitio but failed to prevent the demolition team from tearing down their houses on Wednesday.
A writ of demolition had already been issued after two court judgments dating back to March 26, 2019 and July 22, 2019, which ruled in favor of the land owner.
The Supreme Court also issued a resolution in July 2020 denying the petition of the occupants to reverse the lower courts’ decisions.
On Oct. 18, 2021, the affected villagers were given a reasonable time by the court to remove the structures on the property of the land owner.
The land owner filed a complaint for recovery of possession against the land occupants and sought to vacate and surrender possession of the land, as well as a P50,000 payment for attorney’s fees and the cost of the suit. INQ
A demolition team starts destroying houses in Sitio Talisay, Barangay Camiing in Cabangan, Zambales on Wednesday, April 17. (Contributed photo)