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A proposed agreement between the Capitol and an urban poor association in barangay Apas was placed on hold after the group declined to attend the signing yesterday, citing the complaint they filed in court against the province as basis for their no-show.
“Nibalibad sila sa meeting. Gi advisan kuno sila sa ilang abogado nga dili lang usa makig meet sa atong gobernadora (They begged off from the meeting. They were advised by their lawyer that they shouldn't meet the governor),” said Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda.
The cancellation of the meeting occurred amid the visit of recently installed Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, who re-affirmed the agreement that facilitated the withdrawal of the Central Command (Centcom) from barangay Apas.
The Alliance of Barangay Apas Community Association (Abaca) is petitioning the court to issue a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against the Capitol to stop implementation of the recent agreement it signed with then Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
The charges were filed by the association in coordination with the Cebu City government and Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman.
Apas residents voiced fears that they will be displaced following the Centcom transfer to another location.
Sepulveda said they received a text message from Abaca officials notifying them that they won't attend the 3 p.m meeting with the governor.
Garcia met Abaca officials last Nov. 5 to assure them that they would set aside a portion of the Apas lot for the residents.
Sepulveda said yesterday's scheduled meeting would have enabled Abaca officials to draft with their lawyer the proposed memorandum of understanding with the Capitol facilitating their transfer to a suitable relocation site.
In his visit to Cebu City yesterday, Gonzales said while the MOA signed between the Capitol and the government should be upheld, there’s no specific date concerning the Centcom transfer. With Correspondents Chito Aragon and Fe Marie Dumaboc
