An eviction case was filed by the Negros Occidental provincial government against 112 informal settler families (ISFs) occupying a privately-owned donated property in Bacolod City’s Barangay 39.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said they have already served a second notice to the affected ISFs, adding that they refused to receive the first one.

“Eviction is feasible if we are building something new,” Lacson said.

“If they are on an old building, they can assist in removal, but these are existing structures,” he added.

It can be recalled that in 1954, the Lizares family donated the property to Negros Occidental National High School for the establishment of a school garden.

However, with some provincial government buildings constructed, Lacson said, it violated the donation agreement.

In 2012, the Lizares family filed a case which sought to cancel the donation.

“We reached a compromise,” Lacson said.

The governor said establishments could remain, while the rest would be returned to the Lizares family.

At least 7,000 square meters had been returned to the Lizares family, seeking the eviction of ISFs occupying the donated property.

“We issued notices [which are] to comply with the terms of our settlement with the Lizares family,” Lacson said.

“The law requires two attempts before filing an eviction case in court,” he added./WDJ