Court stops demolition of Tondo stalls

Some 100 small traders in Tondo, Manila heaved a sigh of relief after a Manila court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) yesterday stopping the demolition of their stalls.

Traders belonging to the Equitable Development Corp. Tenants Association had sought the court’s intervention following the alleged illegal demolition of several stalls around the EDC compound in Barrio Menu, Dagupan, Tondo.

The group claimed that last July 18, unidentified men began tearing down their stalls reportedly upon the order of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) even without the necessary demolition permit.

The group also claimed that the demolition is not covered by a court order, without notice of demolition to stall owners, without the presence of a sheriff and that there was no coordination with their barangay officials.

"It’s a violation of our human rights," the traders referred to the said illegal demolition.

The illegal demolition resulted in the loss of merchandise and properties to the traders, according to the group. The demolition almost turned out to be bloody if not for the quick intervention of policemen from the Western Police District, the group alleged.

The affected traders also filed a case against the demolition team, even as they asked the court for a TRO on the demolition.

In the said TRO, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 7 ordered the DPWH to restrain the implementation of its demolition order dated Jan. 28, 2003 until further ordered by the court, effective 72 hours from the service of the order to the respondents.