'APEC prep to displace 500,000'

MANILA, Philippines - About 500,000 poor families including fishing villages in Manila Bay and Laguna Lake will be displaced as the government preparesfor the second staging of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2015.

Fisherfolk groups, including Pamalakaya  Save Laguna Lake Movement, Koalisyon Kontra Kumbersyon ng Manila Bay, Save Freedom Island Movement and Sagip Manila Bay Movement, said some 500,000 people in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan will be removed from their communities to pave way to an across-the-lake, across-the-bay clean up to be undertaken by Malacanang, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local government units surrounding Manila Bay and Laguna Lake.

"Something big, graphically violent and bloody will be initiated by the Office of the President starting the aftermath of the May 2013 elections up to next year in Manila come 2015 for the Apec adventure," Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France said.

"The Washington D.C wants its puppet republic in Manila to clean up Manila Bay and Laguna Lake of poor people before the 2015 Apec summit in the National Capital Region.

"Expect President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to carry out the biggest demolition campaign of a lifetime this year and up to next year,"the groups said.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje last week announced the government will undertake a top-to-bottom house cleaning before the VIPs to the Apec summit in Manila arrive here in 2015. - Dennis Carcamo