Manila folks bring eviction case to court

Some 35 families from Sta. Cruz, Manila have taken the Manila City government to court in a list-ditch effort to stop their impending eviction, asking for an injunction be issued until a relocation site is given to them.

The petitioners residing on a portion of Estero de San Lazaro on Soler street in Sta. Cruz complained that they were "singled-out" in the neighborhood and cited some 26 other families and their own two barangay buildings, all located along the creek, that should also receive notices of demolition.

The letter, attached to the court petition, was sent to Julie Villegas of the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Development and Joseph Bulanon, the acting head of Slum Clearance and Demolition Services. The petition requested the court to issue a temporary restraining order.
Named as defendants in the case Villegas, Bulanon, their barangay chairman Ramon Morales, and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza. The case has been raffled to branch 37 of the Manila regional trial court.

The plaintiffs have been served with notices last Oct. 18 to vacate their occupied portion of the creek in 30 days. They later received a list enumerating them as the only ones who are to be affected by the demolition notice.

The city government reportedly will undertake a clean up project of the creek. – Jose Aravilla