Makati throws out 68 families from tenement

MANILA, Philippines - As residents pelted them with glass bottles and bags filled with human waste, the Makati City Sheriff’s Office evicted yesterday 68 families illegally occupying a condemned tenement in Barangay Tejeros.

In an interview with The STAR, Makati’s information and community relations department (ICRD) chief Joey Salgado said the eviction of the 68 families from the condemned tenement on H. Santos street was conducted by the Sheriff’s office on the strength of a court order.

Salgado said the Makati City government has given much leeway to the illegal occupants of the tenement since 2008.

“The city government has offered them financial assistance amounting to P10,000 and a relocation site in Laguna. There are a total of 92 families previously occupying the tenement that has a case of non-payment of their rental for 10 years. Sixty-eight of the 92 families refused to accept the package. There are others who accepted the package, but they also refused to vacate the tenement,” Salgado said.

Salgado said the tenants risk their safety by staying in the condemned tenement, which will be renovated by the city government.

He said the tenants of the condemned tenement brought their case to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP), which ruled in favor of the city government.

“The CHR and the PCUP declared that the tenants cannot legally stay in the tenement because it is condemned and very risky for them,” Salgado said.

He said despite the ruling of the Makati City court, the CHR and the PCUP, the 68 families continued to occupy the tenement until they were evicted yesterday by the Sheriff’s Office.

“The demolition of the condemned tenement has been scheduled since 2008, but it was delayed because of the refusal of the tenants who are not paying their rental of P1,1000 per month for the past 10 years. The good payers will be given a slot once the new big housing complex is constructed in the area. Good tenants have reserved units already. They will be renting low once it is completed,” Salgado said.

He said the city government has asked the deadbeat tenants why they find it hard to pay the P1,100 monthly rental when they are complete with amenities such as television sets. Those who suffer are the tenants who had already left the place. It is a condemned building, unsafe and unsanitary. They were given until July 2008 as deadline for them to leave the tenement but they did not leave the place,” Salgado said.

Salgado said the personnel from the Sheriff’s Office, Makati City police and the city’s department of public safety conducted the eviction. The tenement will then be demolished.

“This is an unfortunate event, but there is a clear risk involved,” Salgado said.