North Triangle residents lose homes to demolition, decry ‘overkill’

The new wave of demolitions along Agham Road in Sitio San Roque, Quezon City, wreaks of violence and wanton disrespect for basic human rights. From the looks of it, not even an iota of humanity was present during the demolition. Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com

MANILA Homes of residents of an urban poor community in North Triangle were demolished today, Jan. 27, 2014, to supposedly give way to the 11.3 meter road widening project along Agham Road in Quezon City.

At around 6:00 a.m., around 1,000 police, members of SWAT and a demolition team arrived in North Triangle. In response, residents barricaded their homes.

The first wave of demolition took place at around 9:30 a.m., where some 40 to 50 houses, according to Kadamay-San Roque, were demolished.

A clash between the police and residents erupted again at around 12:30 p.m. The police fired tear gas canisters. Residents, for their part, retaliated with stones and bottles in their effort to save their homes from demolition.

In a press conference, urban poor leaders decry that the demolition was an overkill. (Photo by J. Ellao / Bulatlat.com)

As of 4:00 p.m., Ghay Portajada of human rights group Karapatan said 13 residents were arrested namely: Rosalino Castro, Jasper Rafael, 18, Gilbert DeSilva, 20, Donald Yungson, 24, Harly Largo, 21, Ricky Ho, Carlito Istapia, 21, Jhoross Roman, 19, Rodolfo Pisante, 36, Jay-ar Reyes, 25, Alex Liparep, 46, and minors Junior Mangaraig, 16 and Richard Chiong, 17.

The group reported that 13 children suffocated from the teargas; a two-month old baby had to be rushed to the hospital; also affected were three old people, a pregnant woman and two sick residents.

Couple Brix Mercado and Peng Opable were hit by policemen wearing civilian clothes. Opable told Bulatlat.com that they were dragged by the police away from their house.

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North Triangle residents lose homes to demolition, decry ‘overkill’