Cops, soldiers prevent violence in demolition of Digos City homes

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – A melee nearly erupted when a court-backed demolition took place in Sitio Power in Barangay Tres de Mayo here Tuesday.

However, the protesting homeowners affected by the demolition order eventually gave up when the police-backed demolition team led by provincial sheriff Edgar Deparine refused to be deterred by the residents who threw things and even hot water at them.

Deparine said he knew how painful it was for the homeowners – numbering 36 – to lose their homes but he had to implement the demolition order.

“The area they settled in was owned by somebody else,” he said.

Supt. April Mark Young, the city police chief, said the presence of the police and some military personnel had prevented a full-blown violence between the homeowners and the demolition team.

Oscar Bucol, Tres de Mayo village chair, said the problem was aggravated by a political camp that politicized the issue.  He did not identify the political party that meddled in the issue.

“The problem escalated when some politicians fed false hope to the homeowners,” Bucol said.

He said other homeowners had voluntarily left and availed of the P50,000-assistance and relocation site provided for them by the provincial government.

“It was a very good offer but politics played into the equation and some of those who stayed behind banked on the promises of their patrons that the land will be eventually awarded to them even if they knew that the court has already decided in favor of the real owner,” Bucol said.  SFM