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Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila and seven others, including three police
officials, will be facing a violation of human rights complaint
filed by the owners of the Vitas slaughterhouse before the
Commission on Human Rights, over Lim’s alleged abusive and brutal
take over the Tondo-based slaughterhouse.
In a 7-page complaint filed by Dealco Farms Inc.
Executive Vice President Jocelyn Alcoreza, the Commission was asked
to take a closer look at her submitted pieces of evidence that, she
claims, shows that the local officials violated human rights. The
firm operated the slaughterhouse.
Besides Lim, the others named respondents were
his Chief of Staff Ricardo de Guzman, City Administrator Jesus Mari
Marzan, City Legal Officer Renato De la Cruz, Veterinary Inspection
Board Officer-in-Charge Francisco Co and Sr. Supt. Alejandro
Gutierrez, Sr. Insp. Marcelino Reyes and Supt. Rolando Miranda of
the Manila Police District. Several city hall officials and
employees were also included in the complaint.
Alcoreza said Dealco and the City of Manila on
October 11, 1999, entered into a 25-year contract lease covering the
Vitas Slaughterhouse.
“The contract required Dealco to rehabilitate,
modernize and upgrade the operation of the slaughterhouse,”
Alcoreza stated in the complaint.
“In pursuance of the contract of lease, Dealco
infused at least P5 million for the rehabilitation and improvement
of the slaughterhouse and paid its monthly rentals.”
Alcoreza argued that Lim signed Executive Order
No. 24 “without any legal ground under said civil case to take
over possession of the Vitas Slaughterhouse.”
Dealco is owned by the family of Manila
Councilor Dennis Alcoreza, brother of the complainant.
Earlier, a closure order from the city
government was served to Dealco on grounds that the firm failed to
pay their taxes, allegedly hid their financial statements and had no
business permit.
Dealco asked for a 10-day period to inventory
their materials, but Manila operatives refused to grant the request
and forcibly took over the property.
-- Ira Karen Apanay
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