Pasig mayor leads demolition of shabu shanties

Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio led the demolition yesterday of 53 shanties at the Mapayapa compound, where a shabu "tiangge" (flea market) had been operating for several years before police raided the area last week.

"We are demolishing the shanties to symbolize our seriousness in stamping out the drug menace in Pasig," said Eusebio, who noted that this was the first of a series of planned demolition of squatter areas aimed at preventing the establishment of more drug dens.

The compound on a 600-square meter lot in Barangay Sto. Tomas, occupied by more than 300 families prior to Feb. 10 raid, was a virtual ghost town when Eusebio and a demolition team arrived at 9 a.m.

The mayor was accompanied by lawyer Carlos Abesamis, Pasig City legal officer, who invoked Articles 432 and 436 of the Revised Penal Code in effecting the demolition of the shanties.

Under the provision, the government has the authority to demolish structures, which pose an imminent danger to the community.

However, Director Marcelo Ele Jr., commander of the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) said the Pasig government should not have demolished the structures because the compound was still a crime scene.

"He should not have done that without first coordinating with us," he lamented.

Ele said he will coordinate with the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Government to determine what action to take against the mayor.

"Hindi nila dapat ginawa iyon dahil ebidensiya namin ang nandoon," he said. At least 167 residents have been charged before the DOJ.

Ele, a lawyer, said the demolition should have been conducted after the cases were resolved and upon the order of the court.

Money maker

Ele said the syndicate running the "tiangge" sells at least two kilos, or roughly P10 million worth of shabu daily.

He said another P10,000 is collected daily from parking and entrance fees.

"Assuming that the entrance fee to the property is pegged at P10, then at least 1,000 people visit the place. This further increases during weekends," the AIDSOTF chief said.

Eusebio’s decision to shut down and demolish the drug market ended a highly lucrative money-making venture for the drug syndicate.

Using a payloader, crowbars and hammers some 100 workers from City Hall, backed up by a Pasig SWAT team, tore down the shanties.

Eusebio noted the structures were relatively new.

He said the structures were rented out as "cubicles" to drug using customers at prices ranging from P10 to P50, depending on the number of occupants.

Even shanties constructed along the sidewalk in front of the compound were not spared by the demolition team.

Ambrosio Sumadiya, 50, and his three children, who lived in a house made of plywood on the sidewalk of the compound, was among those who joined the ranks of the homeless.

A native of Aklan, Sumadiya said his family has no place to go. His 12-year old daughter will be graduating this March.

The mayor assured Sumadiya that the city government will include his family in the financial program for those affected by the demolition.

The city government released yesterday P300,000 budget under their "Balik Probinsiya" program, to help affected residents go back to their respective provinces.

Each family is scheduled to receive P10,000 under the program.

Meanwhile, the city government filed charges of gross negligence and dereliction of duty yesterday against Jesus Viray, chairman of Barangay Sto. Tomas.

The City Council also passed a resolution calling for the suspension of Viray for his failure to curb the rampant drug trade in the area.

Eusebio yesterday presided over a command conference, where he discussed the drug den problem with barangay chairmen.

The mayor admitted that the Mapayapa tiangge was a big embarrassment to his administration and has affected the image of Pasig as one of the most progressive cities in the country.