The court has dismissed a case filed against mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog in early 2011 by city councilor Edward Yee for forcible entry and damages of his Barbecue Park restaurant at the Iloilo City diversion road.
Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 10 said the complainant had no legal documents to show ownership of the land, now entry site of the Iloilo River Esplanade project of the city government.
The court also dismissed the same charges against executive assistant Victor Facultad, Engr. Roberto Dumanil of Task Force Asis, Ronnie Primaylon and a John Doe of the task force in Nov. 19-decision.
Mabilog said that the city councilor developed the area beside the Iloilo River as a restaurant without any document of ownership from the government. With no land title to show the court, it was established that the land in question is owned by the state.
The city government, on the other hand, is spearheading the clean-up, rehabilitation and beautification of the Iloilo River with the assistance of Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon with an Esplanade for city constituents to enjoy for recreation and exercises.
The government is developing the road stretch area along the diversion and plans to expand the diversion bridge linking Mandurriao district to the city proper.
Similarly, the city chief executive reiterates his order that all illegal structures along the diversion road and other main thoroughfares in the city would be demolished.
The order, released January 2011, gave the city assurance to coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the demolition of illegal structures such as shanties, houses and restaurants that encroach the road right of way and other structures deemed unnecessary along the road.
Dumanil, on the other hand, has already sent notices to owners of these more than 200 identified illegal structures to demolish their structures voluntarily or face force eviction. (Source: PNA)
