CEBU CITY, Philippines - Another political flashpoint is in the offing between Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña as the mayor announced his support for about 500 families living in government land that the governor wants to evict.The provincial government announced they will soon be giving land titles to some 1,430 out of the 5,000 residents of several parcels of provincial government-owned land totaling to about 43 hectares scattered throughout many Cebu City barangays (villages). But Provincial Board Member Juan Bolo, chairperson of the review committee, clarified that beneficiaries who violated some of the provisions of the contract, regardless of whether they had paid up or not, stand to forfeit their claim to the lot. Bolo noted that some of the occupants used the provincial property for business, instead of using the area only as a residential area under the ordinance. Osmeña, meanwhile, said the governor cannot take away the lots from the residents covered under Ordinance 93-1. “The governor will find it almost physically impossible to evict these people, according to my lawyers,” Osmeña said. Osmeña said the lots have already been awarded individually and the provincial government has to file individual eviction cases against almost 500 families who are residing in the said area. /Reporter Nilda Gallo and Intern Ara Chawdhury | 
