9 hurt as Army demolition teams clash with squatters in Taguig

Nine people were hurt, including four members of a military task force, during the demolition of shanties belonging to informal settlers at Sitio Masagana in Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig yesterday.

Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga and Vice Mayor George Elias intervened to prevent more violence and were able to defer the operation being conducted by the Philippine Army’s Task Force Bantay.

Paul Michael Vasquez, Fort Bonifacio Satellite Government Center Area manager, said the demolition of 106 houses was being conducted by the task force to get back property belonging to the Military Shrine Services.

More than 300 families in the area barricaded both lanes of the East Service Road as early as 5 a.m. to prevent the task force from reaching the site.

Taguig police chief Superintendent Alfred Sotto Corpus said the Army men started dismantling houses around 8 a.m.

Angry residents then started pelting soldiers with rocks. Four Army men and five civilians were hurt in the clash.

Corpus said 50 policemen were dispatched to control the situation.

Tinga later held a dialogue with Col. Dante Fernandez, commanding officer of the task force, Philippine Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) Secretary Percival Chavez and Senator Rodolfo Biazon, resulting in the postponement of the demolition pending the resolution of issues raised by the informal settlers.

The residents were pacified at around noon after they were told the demolition would be deferred to Wednesday next week.

Vasquez explained the demolition had to be conducted because the shanties pose a danger to civil aviation, being in the flight path of aircraft.

"Army officials pointed out that even a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher or sniper rifle fired from one of the houses could bring down a passing aircraft," he said.

Even the PCUP said the site is not covered by any proclamation and is not for awarding to informal settlers.

Meanwhile, Tinga has formed a committee, to be led by Elias and Vasquez, for discussion of relocation plans for qualified families. – Rhodina Villanueva