Pasay cop wounded, 11 security guards held in land row
A police officer was wounded and 11 private security guards were arrested following a violent clash in a disputed property in Pasay City Friday morning.
The guards, described by police as members of a security agency manning the property for SM Development Corp., allegedly hurled rocks and fired a shot at the police and demolition teams brought along by a court sheriff who was taking hold of the land in behalf of another claimant.
SPO2 Angel Atos, a member of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Pasay police, lost five of his teeth after being hit in the face by a rock allegedly coming from one of the guards.
At least one guard fired his shotgun toward the police, according to the SWAT team leader, Supt. Tyrone Valenzona.
Police said the arrested men were from Sinai security agency. However, another company—CMP Federal Security Agency— sent a statement to the Inquirer saying it is the one in charge of guarding the lot for SMDC but that its men neither started the violence nor retaliated “even when provoked by the demolition team who threw stones at the guards in an attempt to occupy the lot.”
Around 9 a.m. Friday, under police escort, Pasay court sheriff Rodelio Buenviaje arrived at the property at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Lourdes Street to serve a writ of possession issued by Judge Jesus Mupas on Jan. 7.
The court recognized the heirs of Danilo Herrera as the legitimate owner of the 5,640-square meter property and called for the eviction of its current occupants. One of the heirs, Marilou Herrera, said they have been fighting for the lot since 1975 but it only succeeded after the court granted their January 2009 petition to reconstitute their lost title over the property.
Buenviaje said no one among the people manning the property came forward to meet him and that he and his police escorts—including the SWAT team and 25 other officers—were instead pelted with rocks.
Senior Insp. Joey Goforth, head of the investigation division, said the guards were arrested for assaulting police officers, obstructing the implementation of court orders, illegal discharge of firearm, and violation of the election gun ban.
The arrested guards were identified as Domer Hernandez, 33; Lucio Tadique, 56; Ramil Ajero, 42; John Vincent Bever, 19; Jhay Ronn Untalan, 20; Sonny Suan, 33; Rey Baria, 31; Jemmel Serna, 38; Elorde Luzano, 32; Erwin Peniero, 30 and George Ayala, 32.
The police confiscated three shotguns with 13 shells, two spent shells, a fan knife and a bolo from the guards.
