CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Homeowners of Morning Mist Village have taken their dispute with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to a housing tribunal, asking it to stop what they call an unnecessary government takeover of their homeowners association just weeks before scheduled elections. 

The Morning Mist Village Homeowners Association, Inc. (MMVHOAI) filed a petition for injunction before the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) on July 20, seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop a DHSUD-ordered emergency assembly on July 23 that would appoint a five-member caretaker board. 

The legal action follows a signature campaign launched by homeowners opposing the directive. 

The association said regular elections are already scheduled for Aug. 22, making the appointment of an interim board unnecessary. 

The dispute arose after DHSUD ruled that the current board had lost its authority because no election was held in 2025. 

However, association President Arthur P. Aranas and other officers argued that their terms remain valid until August under a two-year term approved by homeowners in a 68-18 referendum in August 2022. 

The current board was elected in August 2024. 

In its petition, the association raised three main arguments. 

It said DHSUD cannot apply rules adopted only in late 2024 to officers elected months earlier. 

It also argued that its January 2025 submission informing the agency of the two-year board term was deemed approved after DHSUD failed to act on it within the period prescribed under the Anti-Red Tape Act. 

The association further argued that appointing a caretaker board is unwarranted because homeowners are already set to elect a new board on Aug. 22. 

Association leaders warned that installing an interim board just weeks before the election could create competing leadership, disrupt village operations, and undermine homeowners' right to choose their own representatives through a democratic vote.

The HSAC has yet to act on the association's request for a TRO.

. (Dave Achondo, Editorial Associate)