QC squatters hold indignation rally

Around 50 squatters whose shanties on Old Samson Road, Balintawak, Quezon City, were demolished two weeks ago, allegedly on the orders of Quezon City Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr., held a rally in front of the city hall yesterday morning to express their indignation over the "violent demolition."

The residents, accompanied by community organizers from United Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization, also held a mock wake of the five children who died after the demolition.

The UPA earlier reported that Roselyn Marabot, 10, her sisters Roselle, 5, and Rosalinda, 2, Rodmart Mendez, 11 months old; and one-year-old Hessica Calindoy, were suffering from measles when the Anti-Vendor Unit of the Quezon City People’s Bureau carried out the demolition last March 6.

According to the UPA, the children were placed in pushcarts after their shanties were demolished. Bad weather aggravated their condition. Roselyn, Roselle, Rodmart, and Jessica died of severe pneumonia a couple of days after the demolition while Rosalinda passed away last Saturday.

As the protesters held the wake-cum rally, UPA community organizers Florante Rebite and Chito Aguilar, along with Jessica’s father, Joseph, and others evicted from the Old Samson Road community, met with Quezon City chief legal counsel Jose Puhawan and Mon Asprer, head of the People’s Bureau, to discuss their appeal to stop the demolition in the area.

The residents also want the city government to hold a dialogue or consultation with them and offer a relocation site before any demolition is carried out.

They complained that Anti-Vendor Unit head Jack Jacutin and his team demolished their shanties without notice. They also alleged that Jacutin ignored their appeal to suspend the operation because of the sick children.

Ada said that the Marabot sisters help her pick-up cartons and plastics in the area, which they sell, earning them at least P100 a day.

After the meeting, Puhawan drafted a letter addressed to the residents, stating the city government would not touch shanties at the back of Balintawak Market in Barangay Apolonio Samson in Quezon City "without first holding dialogue and consultation with concerned and affected families."

Moreover, the letter stated that "necessary investigation will be conducted by the city government to look into the legality of the demolition of houses previously carried out.

We will also investigate the manner in which the demolition was conducted. We have also agreed that there will be a representative from the city’s health department during demolition," Puhawan told reporters.

It was also agreed upon in the meeting that the city government will undertake the funeral expenses of the children amounting to P36,000.

According to UPA’s Aguilar, the children were buried at around 3 p.m. yesterday at the Bagbag Cemetery in Novaliches.

Puhawan said that city government suggested the immediate burial of the children considering the health risk involved in exposing their cadavers to the public. A foul smell was already emanating from the tiny wooden caskets.

Regarding the possible relocation sites. Puhawan told the residents that the city government is still awaiting guidelines from the National Housing Authority (NHA).