Iligan City LGU to file charges vs Bayanihan Village residents

The local government of Iligan City is set to file charges against Sendong beneficiaries and government employees who initiated the selling of housing units at the Bayanihan Village.


City administrator, Atty. Dexter Rey Sumaoy, said there will be ongoing efforts in monitoring and padlocking of the housing units at the Bayanihan Village this city.

Despite the clamor and complaints against the ongoing padlocking of housing units the ongoing padlocking of housing units, the local government of Iligan is pursuing the action, despite the alleged suppression of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City.

Atty. Sumaoy explained that the housing units were acquired and were sold by the beneficiaries since 2014.  Since then, the local government has been requesting the residents and beneficiaries to stop selling their units.

According to Sumaoy, the Bayanihan Village was built during the time of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz when typhoon Sendong struck Iligan City where thousand of Iliganons died, hundreds missing, and thousands lost their houses and livelihood in 2011.

There are one thousand six hundred fifty (1,650) housing units that have been built and were turned-over to legitimate Sendong beneficiaries.

Since then, the local government has been receiving reports on the selling of housing units at the Bayanihan Village.  

During the time of Mayor Celso G. Regencia, the local government also appealed to the residents and beneficiaries to stop selling their units because it is government-owned.

The legalities and possible penalties were explained several times.  However, despite the systematic details and explanations of potential violations and punishments, selling of units became rampant and rigid.

In February 2017, Mayor Regencia gathered all the legal team, PNP, and other significant people who could discuss and provide solutions to the growing concerns with the Bayanihan Village.

On May 23, 2017, the Marawi siege occurred, and three days after the siege, Iligan City became a safe haven.  The local government provided four (4) evacuation centers for the IDPs.

Atty. Sumaoy said most of the occupants of the Bayanihan Village are not IDPs.  He said they have been occupying the housing units since 2014.

Atty. Sumaoy said there has been several procedures and processes that the government is doing.  There were numerous public hearings, meetings, and discussions with the beneficiaries before the said padlocking was realized.

The final meeting was on March 27, 2018, at the Barangay Tomas Cabili Gymnasium, where this was attended by the Department heads from the City Social Welfare and Development office, Task Force Padlocking head Pio M. Bacung, City Police Director Supt. Leony Roy Ga, Housing Resettlement Office Department head Rey Roque, Engineer Tata Actub of the City Engineer's Office, Santa Elena Barangay Captain Ruperto Alicaway, Barangay Officials, Iligan Gawad Kalinga, and hundred of Sendong beneficiaries.

The issue was discussed, and it was agreed that the housing units will be temporarily padlocked starting April 2, 2018.

On the other hand, the local government will be filing complaints against those housing unit beneficiaries who have allegedly sold their units to ineligible persons.