MANILA, Philippines - A partylist congressman on Monday accused Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista of fabricating a story on the impending demolition of squatter families' houses along Agham Road.
Anakpawis partylist Rep. Fernando Hicap also denied Bautista's accusation that his group incited the violence on Agham Road to prevent the police from removing the barricade formed by the informal settlers in the area.
"This traditional politician is really good in telling lies and a grand champion in fooling the people and the general public in vain attempt to push a Malacañang PPP (Public-Private Partnership) driven sell out in North Triangle," Hicap said.
Hicap, however, admitted that many urban poor families in the area are members of Anakpawis partylist, and that his group is supporting the fight of the residents against demolition and be given decent mass housing and jobs.
"We are in the area in solidarity with and in support to the people's legitimate demands which Mayor Bautista refuses to acknowledge, honor and uplift. We are not part of any professional squatting group and the people in North Triangle are not professional squatters but legitimate citizens of this country," he added.
Bautista said he got an intelligence report that a group is extorting P1,000 each from informal settler families in exchange for protection from relocation.
He said the group started the violence to protect their "rackets."
Hicap said he would file a resolution in Congress to investigate the PPP project conceived by the city government and National Housing Authority for the Ayala Group, which is a known supporter of President Benigno Aquino III, the Liberal Party and the Mayor Bautista.