6 hurt as Caloocan demolition turns violent

MANILA, Philippines – Five policemen and a demolition team member were wounded when they clashed with informal settlers during a demolition in Caloocan City Monday morning.

Police Officers 1 Mark Melecio Alolor, Ralph Galupo, Peter Pedregosa, Rondio Rosales, and Luem Orillo, all from the Northern Police District (NPD) Public Safety Battalion, suffered injuries from being hit by rocks and bottles thrown at them by informal settlers.

Raulito Mahinay was shot in the left shoulder, said assistant city police chief Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario.

He said Regional Trial Court Branch 128 Judge Eleonor Kwong issued a writ of demolition that covered the shanties erected on privately owned land in Barangay 8, but the informal settlers tried to defy the order.

It took police officers more than two hours to clear the area before the demolition crew was able to dismantle the houses.