22 hurt in Makati demolition

MANILA, Philippines - At least 22 persons were injured as a demolition team from the Makati City engineer’s office evicted around 86 families who refused to vacate an 800-square-meter government property along Guatamela street in Barangay San Isidro.

Violence broke out at around 11 a.m. when firefighters used three firetrucks to force their way into the shantytown. Among those injured by rocks and bottles hurled by residents manning the makeshift barricades were 13 police officers from the Southern Police District, six members of the demolition crew, a resident, a member of the city public safety office and RPN 9 cameraman Gerardo Sabatera.

By 11:30 a.m., residents successfully repulsed the police officers and firefighters by throwing bottles and human feces.

At about 3 p.m., the demolition crew, assisted by members of the Makati police and a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team from the Southern Police District, made a final push at the barricades by using a bulldozer and hosing down residents using a water cannon.

Police officers fired tear gas canisters and arrested at least eight residents manning the barricades. The property was secured shortly after 3:30 p.m.

In a statement, Makati spokesman Joey Salgado said the city government is saddened by the violence that erupted, but noted that the residents who refused to leave are “landlords renting out spaces to transients.” He said most of the shantytown residents have agreed to voluntary relocation in Calauan, Laguna.

The Makati regional trial court earlier ruled in favor of the city government after Judge Benjamin Pozon denied the petition of the residents for preliminary injunction. Pozon’s ruling was later upheld by higher courts.