Davide Admits Apas Lots Not Owned by Capitol

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has admitted that the contested lots in Barangay Apas, Cebu City, are not owned by the province.

But that is based on the present documents presented to him today by Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) Nigel Paul Villarete.

Based on these documents, Davide said Aletha Suico-Magat is the true owner of Lot Nos. 942 and 947, wherein 157 houses are being demolished as of press time.

The governor said that although these lots were once used a part of the Lahug airport in 1949, before they were used by the
National Airport Corporation, these were owned by a private individual, and that is Suico-Magat.

He said based on the law, once the government has abandoned the property which it has used, it has to be returned to its original owners by way of reconveyance. And since Lahug airport was abandoned, the lots must be returned to the previous owners.

“Kinahanglan ibalik sa tag iya and this is one of those cases,” he said.

But Davide said the province will still help the residents of Barangay Apas affected by the demolition by finding those documents which could prove that it is really the province that owns those properties as maintained by the residents.

Davide said documents like the Executive Order 20 signed by Gobernador General Francis Burton Harrison in the early 1900s may prove that these lots are owned by the province.

The Capitol has yet to verify this piece of document though, he said.