2 dead as guards, villagers clash in Caloocan property dispute

Manila, Philippines - Two residents of Pangarap Village in Caloocan City died after around 300 of their neighbors clashed with security guards when they marched along Araneta Avenue toward the office of a firm tasked to develop the property.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police investigation chief, said Solomon Gomez, 45; and Rommel Fortalles, 37, died from gunshot wounds.

Soriano said that at around 6 a.m., aroud 15 residents of Pangarap Village, who are contesting the ownership of their lots from their registered owner, marched toward the office of Carmel Development Inc.

Along the way, the residents, using megaphones, were able to draw around 300 more protesters, Soriano said.

The protesters reportedly started hurling stones and Molotov bombs at the guards when the security personnel started to grab and destroy the demonstrators’ placards and banners.

Senior Police Officer 1 Louie Ramos said one of the guards, Michael Tome, allegedly shot at the protesters, killing Gomez and Fortalles and wounding many others.

During the confrontation, stray bullets hit a nearby police detachment and shattered the windshield of its patrol vehicle. The seven police officers on duty failed to stop the confrontation due to the number of persons involved.

Chief Inspector Moner Orang, the detachment commander, asked for help from the Caloocan City police main office. The lawmen were able to control the crowd one hour later, when reinforcements arrived.

According to Ramos, the Araneta family owns the contested land.When pressed for more information, Ramos said their investigation is ongoing.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos directed his men to make sure there would be no more confrontations.