Squatter group says Malabon fire related to shanty demolition

A leader of the militant Pederasyon ng mga Maralita sa Letre at Catmon (Pedmalac), the umbrella organization of squatter organizations in Malabon, claimed yesterday that the fire that razed over 1,000 shanties and displaced more than 3,000 families Saturday night in the so-called Paradise Village in Gozon Compound, Barangay Tonsuya, Letre, Malabon is linked to the controversial demolition carried out in the area three weeks ago.

Eddie Bercilla, Pedmalac chairman, told The STAR that many of those who lost their homes were Pedmalac members who joined the protest rally held in front of the Malabon municipal hall last March 20.

Barilla’s wife, Catalina, was one of the four fatalities in the fire that raged for eight hours. According to Bercilla, his wife suffered a heart attack at the height of the inferno.

"The first homes hit by the fire were those of the residents and Pedmalac members who joined the rally," Bercilla said in Filipino.

Some 500 squatter residents picketed the municipal hall last month to denounce what they claim was an illegal demolition of their shanties in Paradise Village.

They blamed incumbent Mayor Amado Vicencio for allowing the owner of the private property, a certain Zenaida Gozon, to demolish some 170 houses despite an agreement to allow them until April 5 to relocate.

Bercilla had earlier said that there was no relocation provided the families after the demolition.

Vicencio’s camp, however, claimed the demolition was based on a court order issued more than a year ago.

"Galit siya sa mga tao sa Letre. Silang mga malalaking tao sa pulitika sa Malabon pati na ang mga landlord, ( Big names in politics, and also landlords, are angry with the people in Letre)" Bercilla said.

However, Bercilla emphasized that the issue is not a fight between Vicencio and his closest rival for the mayoralty post, businesswoman Flery Marcelo (Lakas-NUCD-PPC).

The issue, Bercilla said, is between the masses and the "big people." "Biktima lang kami ng pulitika (We are mere victims of politics)," he said.

In an interview, Abbi Balatbat, campaign spokesperson of Vicencio, downplayed Bercilla’s claim, saying that the shanties hit by the fire were not part of the area that was supposed to be demolished last month.

"They’re starting to play dirty politics. We’d like to stick to issues. We don’t want to go down to their level," Balatbat said, referring to Malabon councilors Eddie Torres and Chiqui Roque, who belong to Marcelo’s ticket, and who Balatbat believes are supporting Bercilla’s group.

Balatbat added that the bulk of the voters in Malabon come from Barangay Tonsuya.

Bercilla’s theory was bolstered by the arrest Monday night of a person who allegedly attempted to set the remaining shanties in Paradise Village on fire. Police arrested Glen Villareal, 36, single, jobless, of Paradise Village.

Case investigator PO2 George de la Cruz of the Malabon police Station Investigation Branch said that Villareal was apprehended by a member of the Citizens Volunteers Against Crime (CVAC) at around 11:30 p.m. in Block 1, Damata , Letre Road, Tonsuya, Malabon.

Investigation showed that Villareal was caught pouring gasoline on some of the shanties. A half-gallon of gasoline was also allegedly found in Villareal’s possession.

Villareal, detained at the Malabon detention cell, denied the accusation.

In an interview, Villareal claimed to be a beautician and said that he had just come from a home service when he heard that someone was attempting to start another fire in the area.

He added that he was talking with neighbors when some men in the area pointed to him as the suspect.

Balatbat said that reports reaching the Office of the Mayor claimed that two more people had died in the fire, aside from Bercilla’s wife and 11-year-old Jeffrey Agustin who was electrocuted while looking for copper wires in the fire debris.

Balatbat said that one of the victims discovered by firefighters Sunday afternoon was identified as eight-year-old Dionisio Buhat of Paradise Village.

The little boy and the other victims, who remained unidentified, were burned beyond recognition.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited the victims Sunday afternoon to extend assistance and comfort.

According to FO1 Javier Barera of the Malabon Fire Station, authorities are still investigating what caused the fire which damaged an estimated P30-million in property.