Over 400 families living within the premises of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) in Patag, Cagayan de Oro have expressed worry over losing their homes after a court issued a writ of demolition against them.

A resident whose house sits on the area declared as military reservation of the 4ID camp could not help but be emotional when she and other 427 families were informed of the demolition order.

She said she was born and raised in the area until she got married.

“Mang hinadlok sila nga kuhaong ang kuryente. Kuhaon ang tubig ang internet siyempre ang mga bata ga eskwela baya need baya kaayo na sila mga basic necessities nato unya naluoy ko sa akong mama kay senior citizen na baya,” Emie Olegario, one of the affected residents, said.

An official of the 4ID said affected residents have long been warned and reminded to vacate the area.

4ID Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, said former President Manuel Quezon declared the more than 100 hectares of land as military area in 1937. However, the military were surprised why some of the residents hold a land title.

“Nagkaroon ng desisyon ang regional trial court na pinaboran ang civilians umakyat tayo sa CA ganun pa rin pinaburan ang civilians so tayo we elevated the case to the supreme court and for the longest time more than 50 years nga November 2013 the decision of the lower court and CA was reversed and set aside,” Garello said.

Garello added that it took nine years since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the military before the title of some residents were canceled.

Recently, the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 has issued a writ of demolition.

“One of our commitment during various dialogues is to provide manporwe ang transporation assistance if they chose to vacate voluntarily their premises,” Garello added.

The Barangay Patag Council is also looking for ways to help the residents affected by the demolition.

“If there is demolition there should be a relocation and that is what I stand for. Our city mayor Rolando Uy is also working on the relocation site which he promised and we are facilitating,” Barangay Patag Chairman Eric Abaday said.