Sta. Lucia Realty denies causing Subic landslide

A realty firm on Friday denied it had caused the landslide that displaced at least 76 families in Subic, Zambales last Aug. 5.

Sta. Lucia Realty & Development Inc., in a statement, said its findings showed the landslide happened outside the subdivision project it was working on.

The firm issued the statement amid claims that it was to blame for the landslide for building a subdivision in the area at the time of the incident.

“Our findings bear out that the landslide happened outside of the subdivision project of Sta. Lucia Realty," it said, according to a report aired on GMA News’ “24 Oras."

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There was “no indication" its development and construction activities caused the soil erosion that triggered the landslide, the company said.

A week before the landslide, “a magnitude-5.9 quake hit the area, quickly followed by nonstop rains," it said.

“Our findings lead us to conclude that the landslide is a natural disaster," the company added.

Sta. Lucia Realty called for sobriety and fairness and sought the right to due process. “It is simply unjust to charge us... without a fair hearing and presentation of evidence," it said.

In the meantime, it said it will provide aid within its capacity to do so “as a humanitarian effort and as a business operating in good faith within the community." — JE/VS, GMA News