3 hurt in Tondo demolition

At least three persons, including a young girl, were hurt when residents clashed with police and a demolition team at a squatters’ area in Tondo, Manila yesterday.

The names of the injured, which included two male members of the Manila City Hall demolition team, were not immediately available as off press time.

They were taken to different Manila hospitals.

Residents, however, told The STAR that the three-year-old girl, who was reportedly hit with a crowbar, is currently confined at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital.

The demolition at the squatters’ area in Gasangan Block I in Baseco Area, Tondo would have affected 1,000 families.

Yesterday, the residents banded themselves into the Nagkakaisang Kapitbahayan ng Baseco and stood their ground, refusing to leave their houses.

According to Marlene Espinosa, the group’s secretary, they believed the demolition was illegal in the absence of a court order.

"Wala naman silang maipakitang court order," Espinosa said.

The residents had been bracing for the demolition since last week and vowed to fight any attempt to demolish their houses.

Last week, residents formed a human barricade and refused to allow police and a demolition team to enter their compound. The residents armed themselves with crude weapons.

At around 10 a.m. yesterday, Superintendent Danilo Estapon, chief of the Ermita police station which has jurisdiction over the area, talked with the residents to peacefully allow the entry of the demolition crew.

Elements of the police Special Weapons and Tactics, the City Hall’s Special Operations Group and the Ermita police provided security to the demolition crew.

However, when the crew started to tear down one of the houses, the residents fought back with stones.

The police and the demolition team retreated after both sides, including a number of residents, suffered injuries.

The demolition crew vowed to return and continue with the dismantling of houses tomorrow.

Police said they would provide a bigger security contingent to carry out the demolition.