Danger zone: 8 hurt in Makati eviction

MANILA, Philippines – Violence broke out at the fire-razed Laperal Compound in Makati’s Barangay Guadalupe Viejo as policemen and demolition workers tried unsuccessfully to evict residents from the 2,000-hectare property.

The Makati city government had earlier declared the property a “danger zone” following the fire that struck the compound on April 19. The fire that had reached general alarm, gutted some 900 shanties inside the compound. The blaze was later traced to a faulty wall socket, also gutted large billboards located along EDSA.

Violence erupted as about 30 combined elements of the Makati police and the Southern Police District in full riot gear tried to escort Makati city hall personnel into the compound along Bernardino Street at about 4 p.m.

The policemen and demolition crews were also assisted by firemen from the Makati Central Fire Station who manned water cannons atop two firetrucks. Without warning, and as the policemen and demolition crew members tried to advance, residents unleashed a barrage of rocks and bottles.

In retaliation, firemen opened fire with the water cannons. However, this only triggered more rocks and bottles to rain on the policemen and demolition workers who were forced to huddle under riot shields.

Rocks and bottles continued to rain on Bernardino Street for about 30 minutes and only stopped after the firetrucks had ran out of water. After the firetucks left the area to get water, the policemen and the demolition crew also retreated.

“We cannot break through. There are too many of them,” said one policeman as he and his companions retreated to the safety of their vehicles.

Seeing that they were successful in stopping the police and the demolition crew, the residents then gathered at the street and started erecting a barricade of sandbags and other debris salvaged from the fire. While erecting the barricade, the residents, who were holding rocks and bottles, also taunted the policemen by chanting “Binay, Binay” while making slashing gestures to their necks.

According to the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) of Guadalupe Viejo, at least eight persons were injured in the clash. Injured were six SPD policemen, three of whom were identified as SPO2 Hilario Dayag, PO2 Clifford Ambrosio, and SPO1 Benigno Viaje. The policemen sustained cuts and wounds in the legs and arms after being pelted with rocks and bottles.

Also reported as injured were one resident of the compound and a member of the Makati City Department of Public Safety. Those injured were rushed to the nearby Ospital ng Makati.

Makati City police chief, Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio said the police will continue to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with the rioting residents.

Bonifacio said police have also welded shut gates of the compound along EDSA after the residents locked and blocked them from the inside.

As of early last night, elements of the Makati City police and the SPD, including members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams of the SPD and Makati police were still positioned along the street.

For his part, Makati City spokesman Joey Salgado said the city government will continue to talk to the residents to convince them to abandon the compound and avail of the city government’s offer to relocate them to Calauan, Laguna and to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan. Salgado said the city government will provide the lots and the residents will simply have to erect the houses.