100 houses in Old Balara ‘peacefully’ demolished

More than 100 houses were "peacefully' demolished in Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City on Wednesday morning.

Reports on News Tv Live and radio dzBB said the affected residents peacefully gathered their belongings and evacuated the area.

The residents were given an advanced warning about the demolition after receiving the notice from the Quezon City Hall last May 23 and were given seven days to vacate the area.

The affected residents said they did not resist the demolition, but tried to convince them to stop the operation pending the resolution of their case before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215.

The demolition caused heavy traffic in Commonwealth Avenue because of the scattered belongings of the residents and the trucks and vehicles of the Philippine National Police involved in the demolition.

UPDATE: Mga residente, kanya-kanyang hakot ng gamit sa demolisyon sa mga bahay sa Old Balara, QC. | via @allangatus pic.twitter.com/VlYzeQXIYl

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 1, 2016

PHOTO: Mahigit sa 100 bahay sa Brgy. Old Balara, QC, isinasailalim sa demolisyon. | via @allangatus pic.twitter.com/1OCpiuj8mZ

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 1, 2016

The scene was a complete contrast of the demolition in the same area five years ago.

Officers of the Quezon City Police District, meanwhile, were placed on standby to ensure peace and order during the demolition.

The Quezon City Hall said that based on the 2012 census, at least 730 families are living in Barangay Old Balara and 473 of them have agreed to relocate in Pandi, Bulacan. The families were also provided with financial assistance, it added.

The city hall added that only 257 families were supposed to remain in the area, but the number ballooned to 486 upon validation. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News