A brief tension sparked after authorities enforced a demolition order against a resort in Barangay Malabog, Pacquibato District, Davao City on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

The owner of Camp Eleaga Spring Resort tried to stop the demolition team led by the City Engineer’s Office, saying it did not go through due process.

Based on the notice of demolition penned by Atty. Francis Layog, city administrator, the local government ordered the demolition of illegal structures such as cottages, cabins, swimming pool, and other resort facilities.

The owner failed to take down the structures within seven days after an order of removal was issued in December 2024.

The resort and the Lake Macaduhong were allegedly part of the 91 hectares watershed area, based on the certification issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last September 2016.

This means that the area is under the jurisdiction of the barangay through a barangay ordinance, which also stipulates that putting up illegal structures in the area is prohibited.

“Pagka 2001 after the issuance sa barangay ordinance, nag issue pud ang city government ang Sangguniang Panlungsod through resolution no. 2523 -01 granting legislative approval to the Barangay Ordinance no. 6 series of 2000 of barangay council of Malabog otherwise known as ordinance prohibiting any person from entering and constructing illegal structures within the watershed reservation of Lake Macaduhong Barangay Malabog, Pacquibato District, Davao City,” Barangay Secretary, Wendel Glove, said.

However, the owner claimed that after DENR issued a certification in 2016, there was another certification issued by the agency that the resort and the lake were not part of the watershed area.

DENR has yet to confirm the supposed certification mentioned by the owner and the latter has yet to provide the document, as of this writing.

The owner also maintained that her parents bought the property in 1962.

“Ang investigation katong 2018 ang dapat tuuhan kay ang penro ug regional office ang nagconduct og investigation from 2016 to 2018 bago na resolve naay certification nga dili watershed ang area. 1962, gipalit ni sa akong parents nga lugar A&D (alienable and disposable) man gud ng lugar maam nganong mohawa man mi nga ako may actual occupant,” resort owner, Cherry Caparoso, said.

After an hour of negotiation, the owner allowed the team to demolish the area, but she said she will file a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Mo-file mi og kaso sa Ombudsman. Dili gyud ko musugot. Unfair kaayo wala gyuy conference nga nahitabo. Unfair kaayo ang gobyerno. Nagtuo ko nga due process ang ilahang himuon kung pobre di gyud ka madungog. Ngano man ang mga datu nga dagko kaayo'g development wala man hilabti?” Caparoso added.

Caparoso also urged the city mayor and the local government to hear their side and investigate the issue thoroughly.

“Unta paminawon niya imbestigahan niya og tarong kung pwede makigstorya ko sa iyaha,” Caparoso said.