What is the undue interest and persistence of Parañaque Mayor Jun Bernabe in the internal affairs of United BF Homeowners Associations, Inc. (UBFHAI)? He is the only mayor we know who is actively preoccupied with seeking the dissolution and destruction of a proud and self-respecting homeowners’ association organized according to law.
UBFHAI has existed continuously for more than 18 years and, except for the usual problems that attend to the life of a village association, has been the only central spokesman for the 10,000 BF homeowners in Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa.
Starting with his takeover of UBFHAI’s gates in Aguirre, Elizalde and El Grande in 2005 with a blitzkrieg sweep of his SWAT troops, Mayor Bernabe has been systematically prying away at the structure of UBFHAI. Under the law, it is not the job of a city government to enforce a decision of the regular courts or the HLURB. That is the job of the sheriff. The enforcement of compliance lies with him and the courts – they have the power to cite for contempt, to penalize, to impose fines and damages. The Mayor’s office has gone beyond and has been acting as the judge, jury and executioner, more than the courts.
Several years ago, the same thing happened to Multinational Village which effectively destroyed the vestiges of the homeowners’ established self-governance. The city government actively supported a rival block of candidates, created widespread dissension in the village and sealed the takeover of the clubhouse with SWAT troops. The LGU supplanted the homeowners’ for self-government with its own indirect control.
When the Management Committee (Mancom) of HLURB took over the UBFHAI Clubhouse last year, they were aided by shock troops and personnel of the Mayor. They are still there for everyone to see, big and brazen as life, with the uniform patches of CSU (Civilian Security Unit?). They act as the praetorian guards to the Mancom and their followers.
The city’s liaison officer for homeowners’ affairs, Ms. Diana Quiros, acts as the spokesperson, mouthpiece, enforcer, campaigner and apologist for the group. Widely distrusted by mainstream homeowners, she goes about her job creating discord and disunity among BF’s residents. DIVIDE and CONQUER! That seems to be the unwritten motto of the Mayor’s game plan.
When the Mayor organized a meeting several weeks ago at the Dragon Prince ostensibly to brief homeowners on the water situation, the first part of the discussion was an exposition of the work of the Mancom, their alleged findings (sic) in their audit of UBFHAI and the participation of leading personalities of the opposition in BF who seek the dismemberment of UBFHAI and supplanting it with another. It means, therefore, that the work of the Mancom and the game plan of the Mayor are parts of the whole, being presented at the same time, at the same venue, and at his initiative.
The Mayor’s fingerprints are all over the place, including his Dear Jimmy letter when he asked Mayor Fresnedi to dismantle BF’s gate in Tirona in the Muntinlupa side. The prize is the domination of BF Homes and the suppression of self-determination and self-governance as a village. Does he do that in Tahanan Village where he lives? He wouldn’t dare!
But why does he want to stamp UBFHAI out of existence and supplant his minions? Arrogance of power?
Let’s express our feelings freely!
Atty. Renato “Tito” Fernandez
[Atty. Tito Fernandez is a charter member of UBFHAI]
3 comments:
I agree with Atty. Fernandez observations regarding the LGUs actions vis-a-vis the UBFHAI. However, this present state of affairs were brought about by the
rampant and systematic corruption of the past leadership of UBFHAI. As much as I abhor as a homeowner what the Paranaque Mayor is doing to our community, it is even unpalatable to support the past
President of UBFHAI in his struggle to perpetuate his disloyalty to the community.
The the former president is blowing bubbles when he alleges that "there were missing funds and equipment and other anomalaies during the current term of UBFHAI President Celso Reyes".
The former president is a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and the Election Committee (ELECOM) disqualified him to run as officer of the Association. Btw, Atty. Fernandez is a member of ELECOM.
I could not agree more with Romy and Atty Fernandez.
The question is: What are we (the homeowners of BF Homes P’que/LasPiñas) gonna do about it? What legal means can we use, Atty Fernandez? Let’s get organized and fight the common enemy: the entity which aims to destroy our United BF Homeowners Association albeit Celso Reyes! Let’s claim back our gates and roads.
We did not use our lifetime savings to buy a home in BF Homes, which gave us some peace, quiet, and security for quite sometime in the past only to be shattered by one man, whose intentions we do not have an idea of. As you said he would not dare do the same thing to Tahanan Village where he lives. Then also how can “Dear Jimmy” dare dismantle our Tirona gate and leave Alabang Hills alone? Oh you forgot to mention our Concha Cruz gate. It seems the Las Piñas LGU has also interfered. Why don’t they also dismnantle the gate of BF Las Piñas/Pilar Village. You can not pass through the subdv. without a sticker! Why do these fellows gang up on our beloved community? Referring to Parañaque LGU Head, if he has gone beyond his authority as Mayor, he can be subject to suspension. That was happened to the former Yaranon of Baguio City when allegedly, he was accused of acting beyond his authority as Mayor. Malacañang (c/o of Sec. Ermita) suspended him (poor fellow).
These are questions that need to be answered! We will not get the reply if we just sit down and be indifferent. One fine day, we will just wake up and see our own sub-associations’ gate dismantled and our roads open to the public. Look at what happened to the once beautiful community of Better Living.
By the way, for the info of everyone, Alabang Hills donated their roads to the Muntinlupa govenrment with one condition: that non-residents who want to pass their roads must buy a sticker (P800.00 plus? per piece)annually. This condition was approved via a court decision in Muntinlupa.
So we go back to the same old question: What are we gonna do about it?
Who wants to lead us and get organized?
I nominate Romeo Barrientos and Atty. Fernandez!
God bless us all!
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