Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, at least 5 homes in Ozamiz City have been demolished to give way to a housing project. Read this in-depth piece by Rappler's Rambo Talabong.
DEMOLITION. The local government of Ozamiz City orders the eviction of land and homeowners for a housing project for informal settlersDEMOLITION. The local government of Ozamiz City orders the eviction of land and homeowners for a housing project for informal settlersFor weeks already, surrounded by noise, the family of James Mendoza* in Barangay Lam-an in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental has been gripped by fear.
Because of the Oaminal family’s clout in the area, James said they have failed to gather help from the government itself to stop the evictions and demolitions, which were discouraged during the coronavirus pandemic. “The Oaminals have no violent record. We are observant of the rule of law. We lead the district and the city with compassion. I appeal for their compassion towards their leaders because we have been working hard for the upliftment of the municipalities,” Oaminal said.PET PROJECT. Construction begins for the housing project envisioned by House Deputy Speaker Henry Oaminal. Sourced photo
This was the same pitch he gave when he met up with the informal settlers and the home and land owners of Barangay Lam-an during a Purok meeting in late 2018. James’ family saw Oaminal’s presentation. James’ family, for one, has held on to the title of their 275-sqm land since June 1962 and had built their house in the late 1990s.At a deadlock, the Ozamiz City local government filed a case with the Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Ozamiz City and obtained writs of possession with the condition that the local government would compensate the families for the land it acquired.
Just on Saturday, August 8, a house was torn down with a backhoe in the early morning. Earlier on Wednesday, August 5, another was taken down, as was another the day before. They were their longtime neighbors in the area. In the sheriff’s report obtained by Rappler, the sheriff, Cesar Vale, said he presented to the family as early as May 7 both a notice to vacate and the local government’s writ of possession for their property. The family received the document but refused to sign it.The sheriff led the demolition of the Torres family home. As shown by videos posted later, the Sheriff entered the family’s house. He was followed by armed policemen in combat overalls.
Since then, the Neri family has made sure that a person stood guard over their home. They could not let themselves be evicted because they have a senior citizen, their grandmother, and a pregnant woman under their roof. The Calimpong family, according to James, did not own the land but still owned the house that was destroyed.For the Oaminals, the government already has enough basis to evict the homeowners. Deputy Speaker Oaminal added that they could also be included in his housing project.
The money was deposited with the clerk of court of the Ozamiz City regional trial court for the families to claim. “I would advise them to claim the money before the court,” Oaminal said. Oaminal also acknowledged that the families sought the intervention of the Supreme Court, but he argued that it might have been the wrong route to take to prevent their eviction. Instead, he said, they should have fought harder at the regional trial court level.
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