19 hurt as violence breaks out anew in Laperal Compound demolition

Manila, Philippines - At least 19 persons were injured after violence broke out anew yesterday at the fire-razed Laperal Compound in Barangay Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City.

 The violence started at around 2:05 p.m. when 16 Makati policemen again escorted members of the demolition and clearing crew into the 2.6-hectare property in the second day of efforts to demolish structures in the compound.

Residents pelted the policemen and the clearing crew with rocks, bottles and at least four Molotov cocktails.

One of the casualties is ABS-CBN reporter Niko Baua, who was hit on the head with a rock. 

Among those injured are a man who was mobbed by the clearing crew after he was seen holding a bladed weapon and a payload operator who was hit in the groin with a bullet from an improvised shotgun while he was clearing part of the compound’s wall along EDSA. Two other victims were identified as Ronaldo Pardinas and Adriel Yarte. They were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati.

At around 3:15 p.m., the demolition crew and personnel from the city’s department of public safety managed to break into the compound.

After the compound was secured, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo arrived and met with at least six community leaders. He promised that only fire-damaged houses will be demolished and intact homes will be left alone.

Robredo also assured the residents that they would be allowed to stay in the compound until a proper relocation site will be identified for them.

However, after a subsequent consultation with Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, authorities agreed that all the structures will be cleared and the compound will be cordoned off by police. During the dialog, the residents, through their leaders, have agreed not to re-enter the compound.

According to city government spokesman Joey Salgado, the Department of Interior and Local Government cannot promise residents of the compound that no demolition will happen as the property is privately owned.

“It would be for the owner, Oliver Laperal, to decide on that. But he has sought the assistance of the city government to clear his property and the city government will be exercising its mandate. In addition, the city government has also declared the property to be a danger zone,” he said.

By the time Binay arrived at the compound, several residents started moving pieces of wood, galvanized iron sheets and other debris from the compound and onto the sidewalk along EDSA. However, police did not allow them to erect temporary shelters along the sidewalk.

Binay said the city council, in a special session, agreed to release P20 million from the city’s funds as financial assistance to the displaced residents.

Binay also lashed out at the Philippine National Police. “It was when we broke into the compound that we were given support. We had been asking the PNP for support since Wednesday to avert violence but no one came,” he said.

During yesterday’s clearing operation, the city police deployed 30 police officers, augmented by 70 policemen from the Southern Police District and the National Capital Region Police Office. NCRPO chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said residents will only be allowed to re-enter the compound starting this morning.

Bartolome said clearing operations may take several days to finish despite Binay’s order that it be finished as of last night. 

Based on a census conducted by the city’s social welfare department, 90 percent of the settlers in Laperal Compound are either boarders or are renting rooms at rates ranging from P1,000 to P3,000 per room a month. Several individuals have been renting out as much as 15 to 20 rooms to boarders or families.

Only around 400 families – out of over 2,000 families staying at Laperal Compound – are considered actual residents.