Squatters call for probe

Navotas squatter families appealed yesterday for appropriate action from government agencies concerned on the demolition of their shanties last week that allegedly resulted in the death of two infants.

Jimmy Manansala, one of the residents affected by the demolition last Oct. 10 at C-3 Tulay, North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS), Navotas, in a letter reaching The STAR, said that the Department of Public Works and Highways has "grossly" violated their rights.

Manansala said the DPWH crew’s demolition of their houses stunned them, for they were never informed nor were given any notice or directive to vacate their occupied area.

According to Manansala, the hastily done demolition resulted in the untimely death of eight-month-old Jennifer Rebamontan and one-month-old Manuel Dorotan Jr.

He said that the DPWH’s action was a flagrant violation of the Urban Development and Housing Act also known as the Lina Law which mandates that before demolishing a squatter area, residents must be given due notice.

"The people, and not the property, should be given the first and foremost concern by any demolition team. . . But (our houses) were demolished without them caring for life," Manansala said.

Dolce Ibanes, former leader of the Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng C-3 Tulay, said that the two infants were already ailing when the demolition was done but their condition was aggravated due to the heavy rains.

"May sakit na yung mga bata, kaso lumala dahil malakas kasi ang ulan noong nag-demolisyon (The babies where already ill during the demolition and their situation became worse due to the heavy downpour)," Ibanes told The STAR.

Ibanes said that several of the affected squatter families came from another demolished area at Market 3 also in Navotas while others were part of the 1998 squatter families, which she once headed, who were transferred by the government through its Pabahay 2000 project to Bitongol and Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Earlier, Mayor Tobias Tiangco blamed the hardheadedness of the squatter families for the problems which beset them during the recent demolition.

The C-3 Tulay area is part of the Japan-funded P3.5-billion Mega Flood Control Project that is expected to begin actual construction early next year after the DPWH finishes the re-clearing of affected areas. –Pete Laude