Cavite groups back House reso on probe into series of fires

Progressive groups from Cavite join Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas in filing a House resolution that seeks to probe a series of fires in coastal communities in the province on March 18, 2024.  (Photo from Pamalakaya)

MANILA, Philippines — Urban poor and fisherfolk groups on Monday sought the help of the House of Representatives in probing the series of fires in their coastal communities in Cavite which they believe were cases of arson.

Leaders of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay)-Cavite and Pamalakaya joined Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas in filing House Resolution No. 1653, seeking to investigate the series of fires in their communities.

The groups claimed that the fires, which displaced hundreds of families in Bacoor City and Kawit, had been intentional and were intended to drive them away from the area where reclamation projects are being built.

“Any resident you’ll ask believes that the consecutive fires that hit communities in Cavite were intentional,” Nieve Numeron of Kadamay-Cavite said in a statement.

“Burning houses intentionally is not new to us, as it is the fastest way to drive away the poor and fishermen in communities with impending government or private business projects. Often, fire victims are not allowed to return to their communities and are instead relocated to distant areas, as happened in many barangays in the province of Cavite,” Numeron added.

Kadamay and Pamalakaya previously released a report on the series of fires that razed  residential areas in Cavite in February.

From Feb. 8 to 27, the groups have logged a total of five fires, displacing more than 300 families in just one month.