2,000 families evicted from UP property

Confronted by a demolition crew backed up by 300 armed policemen, 2,000 Muslim families hardly put up a fight when they were evicted yesterday from a University of the Philippines (UP) property on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Except for two men arrested for gun possession and a near hair-pulling incident between a female resident and a UP legal officer, the illegal settlers only showed token resistance. The two men were apprehended and were taken to Police Station 9.

UP Chancellor Emerlinda Roman warned that trespassers would be apprehended once the 20-hectare land is cleared of illegal settlers.

The state university had solicited the help of the Philippine National Police, which posted a temporary detachment to guard the area.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the demolition was still proceeding without incident, Roman said.

Housing chief Mike Defensor, who was at the scene of the demolition, said the operation was legal and there was no need for an eviction notice or to designate relocation sites for those displaced because they were professional squatters.

"This is the fourth time these people have been evicted but they insist on coming back," he added.

Defensor said the illegal settlers were headed by a certain Raof Dimaporo, who claims he owns the property after having purchased it from a certain Luis Menor, who in turn allegedly bought it from a certain Antonio Pael.

Engr. Lucky Lucman, a member of the committee on peace and order in the Muslim enclave, called the demolition "illegal because there was no court order."

He added that Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Rogelio Pizarro issued an injunction last April 22, acknowledging Dimaporo and Menor’s ownership of the disputed property.

However, Defensor insisted that the injunction does not cover the property because "it was not final and executory."