Tension flares between residents, demolition team in Taytay, Rizal

Tension flared up Wednesday as informal settlers tried to stop a police-backed demolition team from tearing down their residences inside a private compound in Taytay, Rizal.

A total of 200 concrete houses are to be torn down this week at Sitio Sapang Gody in Barangay San Juan. 

Authorities said the residents there could not produce documents proving that they own the lot inside the compound. On the other hand, the residents said they were not informed ahead of the demolition.

In trying to stop the demolition, the residents barricaded and blocked some roads leading to the compound.

 

It was then that the court sheriff presented a court notice to allowing the demolition to push through.

 

About 700 anti-riot personnel from the Taytay PNP arrived to secure the area.

 

As the tension subsided, residents could not do anything but watched as their houses were being torn down by hundreds of members of the demolition team.

 

Majority of houses built there were mostly brand new.  A buldozer was also used to demolish the concrete houses and fences. 

 

"Mga professional squatter sila, paunti-unti, nagtayo na sila nitong mga nakaraang araw. Pag pinipigil namin sila nagmamatigas," a security guard said. — Cesar Apolinario/RSJ, GMA News