MANILA, Philippines?The Quezon City Police District has started demolishing the houses of some 200 families said to be illegally occupying a disputed portion of Camp Karingal in Sikatuna, Quezon City, to give way to the construction of quarters for its men.

The demolition begun last Friday and was expected to continue on Monday if residents fail to get a court order.

But a member of the Camp Karingal Botocan Neighborhood Association Inc., who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, questioned the legality of the demolition, saying the QCPD has not showed them proof that it has a right to evict them from their houses.

The QCPD, the member said, claimed that its men were there merely to assist two families who had volunteered to leave their homes. Instead, the member added, the police went on to tear down four houses.

QCPD chief, Senior Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula, said in a phone interview that the residents were earlier asked to voluntarily leave the area before Friday.

?Friday was their deadline. These are shanties made by the families of policemen which are like extensions of their offices. That is illegal,? he added.

Residents in the area have already asked a Quezon City court to stop the demolition by issuing a temporary restraining order. The court, however, has yet to act on the petition.

The lawyer of the neighborhood association is expected to follow up the petition on Monday.

The QCPD has sought to evict more than 200 families living inside Camp Karingal to give way to a ?quartering project? for its men.

Residents, however, said the city police does not have the right to make them leave because their houses are not within the 5-ha property which the University of the Philippines leased to the Philippine National Police in 1974.