Occupants of Pasig City lot voluntarily demolish homes a day after clash with cops

Residents who threw acid and sewage water with human and animal waste to defend their claim to the 3,300-square-meter private lot in Pasig City that they’ve been occupying for decades, finally stood down on Tuesday as they voluntarily demolished their houses.

This came after Monday’s violent standoff between police and residents of St. Benedict Compound on Alley 2, M. Jimenez Street, in Barangay Kalawaan, where according to an Eastern Police District report 12 policemen and 13 members of the demolition team sustained minor injuries, ranging from burns to cuts.

In a phone interview, St. Benedict Compound Neighborhood Association president Arman Claveria said they decided to leave the area to avoid further injuries to either party. He noted that on Monday night only 20 of the 110 families stayed in the compound, owned by the heirs of Gavino Espiritu and Leonor de Borja.

“We talked among ourselves and it was decided that we’d stand down to avoid injuries. Our lives are more important than our properties,” he said.

On Monday, Claveria said authorities used tear gas on them in an effort to break into the barricade they’ve set up in front of the compound’s gate. He added that two children experienced difficulty in breathing because of this.

A Pasig emergency responder, however, couldn’t immediately verify the report since they weren’t allowed entry to the compound.

Supt. Joey Aquino, the Pasig assistant chief of police for operations, said the residents and the lot owners were able to come to an agreement on Tuesday morning that the families would be allowed to haul their belongings and salvage whatever they could from their homes.

While residents were hauling their personal belongings, some expressed frustration that all their efforts to block off police and the demolition crew on Monday went in vain.

Carmen Teope told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that apart from feeling defeated from their battle, she felt afraid for the security of her three children since she and her husband has yet to find a place where their family can stay.

In a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Norman Luis de Leon, head of the local government’s sidewalk clearing and demolition office, said they have not extended assistance to the affected families.

“For now, we can’t give them any [assistance] yet. We’ll wait for their organization to contact the urban poor [office] so that we can process the kind of assistance they need,” De Leon said. (With a report from Maera Tezuka, trainee)