Workshop wall dispute
We need advice regarding a problem with our workshop and a neighboring property in the Philippines.
We rent two commercial spaces. Originally, one space was used for manufacturing while the other was used as a showroom/display area for our products. Due to certain circumstances, we had to switch their functions, so the manufacturing work and carpenter tools were transferred to the second shop.
After we started operating there, neighboring tenants complained about dust blowing into their area. To address this, they asked us to close off the front opening of the workshop, which we agreed to do.
However, once the front was closed, the workshop became extremely hot and had poor ventilation. Because of this, we opened part of the back wall and installed metal grills so dust and hot air could exit while fresh air could come in.
The area behind the wall is not another occupied building. It is basically an unmanaged vacant lot with overgrown plants, and I believe there may also be a river behind it.
After we made the opening, an elderly man who claims to be the caretaker of the property behind us confronted us angrily. He said we were not allowed to break or modify the wall and threatened to report us to the barangay.
He also repeatedly warned us not to throw garbage into the back area. To clarify, he is not directly accusing us of dumping trash there, but he seems to assume that opening the wall would eventually lead to that, even though we explained that the purpose was only for ventilation. We already have active garbage collection in front of our shop, so we have no reason to throw trash at the back.
A few days later, we saw him supervising workers who were covering the outside of our opened wall with roofing metal sheets.
He also bragged about previously “closing down” another business because they had put a hole in a wall. However, we later learned that the other business reportedly got into trouble because they actually encroached onto another property and extended their structure into it, which is not what we are doing. We only opened part of the wall for ventilation and did not extend our building or occupy any neighboring land.
The confusing part is that our lessor never told us that the wall could not be modified, nor did they mention that the neighboring property owner supposedly built the wall themselves.
We would like to know:
- Could we potentially face legal issues for opening part of the wall?
- Does the caretaker or neighboring property owner have the right to block the ventilation opening?
- Should this first be discussed with the lessor/property owner before any barangay complaint?
- What steps should we take to protect ourselves legally?
Any advice would be appreciated.