Legal moves eyed vs professional squatters

MANILA, Philippines - The government is studying the possibility of offering reward for information on professional squatters provoking informal settlers to block the demolition program of the government, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said yesterday.

This came after Monday’s clash between residents and policemen along Agham Road in Quezon City over a reported demolition of shelters of informal settler families in Sitio San Roque.

Roxas said he is coordinating with the Department of Justice, Metro Manila Development Authority, National Housing Authority (NHA) and local government units to establish possible legal moves against professional squatters as these government agencies have all the information about the informal dwellers in certain areas.

“Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and I will study the possibility of giving rewards for any information about professional squatters, who have been hampering many government projects,” Roxas said.

He also noted that the government will have a clear policy on informal dwellers and a classification of professional squatters versus informal dwellers.

The police yesterday filed criminal cases against the protesters in Monday’s clash.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said the charges filed before the city prosecutor’s office were indirect assault, obstruction and illegal assembly.

QCPD Station 2 commander Superintendent Pedro Sanchez said Estelita Bagaspas of Kadamay, Arnulfo Anoos, Carlito Badion and Josephine Lopez were charged for the injuries sustained by Police Officer 3 Rodolfo Sabucor, Police Officers 2 Ruel Larobis and Ricky Gacelo and Police Officers 1 Larry Christ Tanguiling and Nagal Kares.

Subsidy disbursement to start in August

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on the other hand, sees that the disbursements of the P18,000 subsidy to squatter families agreeing to relocate from Metro Manila’s waterways will start by Aug. 1.

Javier Jimenez, DSWD assistant secretary in charge of the program, said that with the start of the validation and registration process of the affected families this week, the issuance of the subsidy could be as early as next month.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada will meet with developers next week to thresh out plans for the relocation of squatter families living along the esteros of Manila. – With Rainier Allan Ronda, Jose Rodel Clapano, Janvic Mateo, Reinir Padua, Dino Balabo