Sirens were sounded and all fire trucks rushed towards the Bureau of Fire and Penology (BFP) building along N. Bacalso Avenue.
But the fire bureau’s regional office was not on fire.
Government firefighters and its employees formed a human barricade in support of their regional director, Senior Supt. Ma. Luisa Hadjula who has engaged Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama in a standoff after the mayor asked the fire bureau to vacate their building.
A confrontation ensued between Hadjula and the City Hall team led by City Market Administrator Raquel Arce, who was tasked to serve the eviction order issued by Rama.
“I will file a case against you. This is our property. This is our building. We are the owners of the building. This is our fire station. You have no respect,” Hadjula told the City Hall team
Arce told Hadjula that they will have to enforce the mayor’s order.
“Bakit kayo ganyan? Hindi kayo maka tao (Why are you like that? You’re not compassionate),” Hadjula replied.
Hadjula asked Arce, whom she accused of trespassing, to leave the BFP building.
Police personnel were on hand to secure the area and stepped in to pacify both camps.
Hadjula called for assistance and a few minutes later nine firetrucks coming from as far as San Fernando town in the south and Consolacion in the north arrived.
One fire truck blocked the main entrance of the BFP building to prevent city firetrucks from leaving the area.
Three city-owned dump trucks parked near the sidewalk to load confiscated stuff.
Due to the standoff, ambulances were unable to enter the BFP compound which is temporarily housing the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC). Patients were brought in on wheelchairs.
Rama wanted to use the BFP building as a temporary hospital after the Oct. 15 earthquake.
The right wing of the BFP building is occupied by the regional office while the left wing is used by the city fire department.
The city fire department already moved to the Parian substation to allow the CCMC to use a portion of the BFP building.
Hadjula yesterday called on Dr. Gloria Duterte, CCMC chief, to ask that they share four offices on the left wing to accommodate 40 personnel under the special response unit.
She told Duterte during her morning visit that they needed space for their responders since they were also on red alert for “Oplan Yolanda.”
Meetings were held until noon but Mayor Rama turned down Hadjula’s request.
Instead of using part of the BFP’s left wing, Rama said the firefighters could occupy the gym of the Cebu City Sports Center.
Hadjula insisted that the sports center space is not enough for them.
Despite the mayor’s refusal, she ordered her personnel to set up their quarters on the second floor of the BFP left wing.
She also warned her personnel against accepting any communication coming from the city government.
“We are not under the mercy of the local (government). We are under the mercy of the national (government),” she said.