Pasay mosque shanties demolished

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasay City police and Pasay Traffic and Parking Management Office (PTPMO) demolished a shantytown surrounding a mosque in Pasay City yesterday morning.

Abdelmanan Tanandato, a Muslim leader, said three people were killed during the clash – Yakob Macalnas, 37; Hakim Usman, 30; and Rajid Batalo. He said Macalnas died at the San Juan de Dios Hospital from two gunshot wounds while Usman and Batalo were killed on the spot.

Pasay police chief Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta said no one was killed, though six civilians and one policeman – identified as Police Officer 2 Rommel Meriño – were injured during the encounter. The victims were brought to the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

The Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a group helping the Muslim residents, said close to 400 families were displaced.

The UPA said the families were not notified that a demolition would be conducted yesterday morning. The UPA said the demolition team only brought with them a previous eviction order issued by the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court.

Petrasanta admitted that though shots were fired, these were only meant to warn the residents, who were throwing stones and bottles at the demolition crew. “I did not leave until the operation was finished,” he said.

PTPMO head Florencio Mateo said that they are not aware of anyone who died during the clash. Nearly 200 policemen showed up to secure the area around the mosques.

The UPA said the series of demolitions in the area stemmed from a memorandum dated May 26 issued by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita that allegedly indicated that President Arroyo has instructed concerned government agencies to relocate the mosque.

The affected Muslim residents alleged that the area will be converted into a commercial center where a transport terminal will reportedly be built.