Rama threatens cases against re-blocking foes

Those who tried to stop the re-blocking of the fire scene in sitio Bato, barangay Ermita will face legal action, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama warned yesterday.

Rama said he will ask the City Legal Office to study what legal action the city may take against persons including city officials who tried to oppose the re-blocking.

Clearing operations at the fire site in Ermita was supposed to start last Friday morning. But it was postponed in the afternoon after one of the city’ s heavy equipment malfunctioned. There were reports that someone tried to cut its electrical connections.

“I’m just busy right now but legal (office) will have to take care of that. They (persons responsible) will have to answer for that,” he said.

City officials including Councilor Nida Cabrera and DILG undersecretary Francisco Fernandez also visited the Bato, Ermita on Friday to check on the affected families.

Clearing operations resumed yesterday morning but again faced opposition from some Ermita residents who tried to argue with the city's demolition team.

Fernandez earlier said the clearing can be considered “illegal” if there was no pre-demolition conference and no notices issued to affected families.

The occupants said they wanted the re-blocking postponed until after the May 13 elections. The mayor clarified that the clearing operations is not meant to displace the fire victims but to make sure that their community road is wide enough to accommodate a fire truck should another fire hit the area. “If there is going to be fire today, will they be the one to respond to the situation and take the blame?,” Rama asked. /Edison A. delos Angeles, Correspondent