Sheriff faces 2 cases over Apas demolition

COURT sheriff Edilberto Suarin is facing two cases for alleged violations of the urban poor law during the implementation of a court-ordered demolition at Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

The first is a criminal case filed by Leo Dioquino yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman. He is one of the 157 families affected by the demolition at San Miguel.

In a copy of his complaint affidavit, Dioquino said Suarin violated Republic Act 7279, otherwise known as the Urban Housing and Development Act (Udha) after he hired a minor as part of the demolition team.

Worse, Dioquino said the minor robbed them and stole their blower, electric hair iron, electric meter, electric wire and a radio.

This act by sheriff Suarin of hiring a minor to be part of the demolition team is very reprehensible and in breach of the duties deposed on him as agent of the law, he said.

Also, Dioquino said the people who composed the demolition team were not properly identified as some were wearing masks and they have no identification cards.

This, he said, is a violation of Section 28 of RA 7279, which provides that there should be proper identification of all persons taking part in a demolition.

Aside from this, Dioquino said he was not able to receive a notice from the sheriff that their house will already be demolished.

Section 28, he said, further provides that notice should be given to the affected families 30 days prior to the date of eviction or demolition.

It is undisputed that the provision (of the law) is intended as a safeguard to protect the underprivileged and homeless citizens like us. And these requirements are not empty gestures. In fact, the tenor of the provision indicates that such requirements are of mandatory character.

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Sheriff faces 2 cases over Apas demolition