Soldiers demolish 184 shanties at Fort Boni

Soldiers demolished yesterday 184 shanties being occupied by some 300 families who allegedly encroached on property belonging to the Philippine Army’s Military Shrine Services in Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig City.

Residents of Sitio Tago-Tago put up barricades to prevent some 800 soldiers belonging to Task Force Bantay (TFB) from entering the area at 9 a.m.

Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres said the government lot is intended for the expansion of the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio. "If we don’t do this, we will run out of land to bury our soldiers," he said Torres added that on the eve of the eviction, soldiers seized 10 molotov bombs from residents, some of whom are retired soldiers.Prior to the demolition, gunshots were heard.Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino said some of the residents strafed their own houses to make it appear that the Army team was firing at them.Paul Michael Vasquez, manager of the Fort Bonifacio Satellite Government Center Area, said the residents initially offered resistance.

He claimed, however, that members of the TFB fired a few warning shots to drive back residents, who later allowed the demolition team to begin tearing down the structures.

No injuries were reported during the demolition.

Vasquez said the property belongs to the national government based on Republic Act 7279. "The site is not covered by any proclamation and is not for awarding to informal settlers," he said.

The Army said it is also coordinating with residents of posh subdivisions like Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village to resolve boundary issues. Tolentino said officials of these villages have agreed to a joint survey of the area.Vasquez admitted that there is no ready relocation site yet for families affected by the demolition in Sitio Tago-Tago.

"That is why the city government has been appealing to the Philippine Army to have the demolition postponed, but they still pushed through with it," he said.

The city government of Taguig will be designating a temporary staging area for affected families.

Last Aug. 30, 2006, residents of Sitio Masagana in the same barangay, were also threatened with demolition.

Taguig Mayor Freddie Tiñga and Vice Mayor George Elias however, were able to hold a dialogue with Col. Dante Fernandez, commanding officer of the TFB, which resulted in the postponement of the demolition pending the resolution of some issues being raised by the informal settlers.

Nine people were hurt following a clash between residents and the task force.