THE Manila government filed charges against Jelsie Construction and Supply, the contractor involved in the illegal demolition of the Rizal Avenue Sports Athletics Complex (Rasac) in Santa Cruz.

Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Wednesday said that the contractor had no authority to tear down the century-old facility, which had long served as a community hub, disaster response center, and public recreation site.

Also, the mayor said demolition and the ongoing construction of a new multi-purpose building had proceeded without any permits, clearances, or coordination with the local government.

“I am instituting this criminal complaint as the local chief executive of the country’s capital city. This is not only about protecting property but protecting the welfare of our citizens,” Domagoso said., This news data comes from:http://redcanaco.com

Jelsie Construction will face multiple violations, including malicious mischief, unlawful construction without a building permit, and unauthorized destruction of government facilities.

On Aug. 21, 2025, Domagoso made the rounds, and residents had alerted him to the demolition.

By the time he arrived at the site, the facility was already torn down.

City Hall records indicate that no demolition, building, or zoning permits were issued to the construction firm.

Built in 1910 and redeveloped into an all-weather venue in 1995, the facility had hosted numerous public structures, including a daycare center, a police outpost, and a City Hall satellite office.

Isko files raps over demolition of sports complex

During the pandemic, it served as an isolation site and has more recently been used as an evacuation center in times of calamity.

Domagoso also revealed that Jelsie Construction was awarded a P145.5-million contract by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for a new community building at the site.

City Hall records, however, listed the demolished facility’s value at P10.4 million.

According to the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) Local Government and Regional Operations Group, the DPWH project was still marked as “FLR” or “For Later Release” as of Aug. 22.

This means the project was unapproved and is subject to approval by the Office of the President, according to the DBM.

Domagoso linked the case to broader concerns regarding contractors allegedly undertaking national government projects in Manila without local permits.

He noted that more than P14 billion worth of flood-control projects had been allocated to the city from 2022 to 2025, yet flooding persists.

“Funds poured into Manila, but so did the floods,” he said, questioning the effectiveness of these projects.

“This is the start of a long journey of local governments chasing after illegal constructions,” Domagoso said, warning other contractors in the city to comply with local regulations.