Tension grips Antipolo City barangay

MANILA, Philippines - A village chief and at least 200 supporters have barricaded themselves at a barangay hall in Antipolo City to oppose efforts to suspend him due to a pending land case.

Chairman Andrei Zapanta, of Barangay San Luis, also prevented supporters of councilman Crisol Cate from taking over his functions.

While Zapanta’s supporters were inside the barangay hall, Cate’s supporters were holding a vigil outside.

Elements of the crowd disturbance management of the Antipolo police have been deployed in the area. “We will stay there until the standoff is over,” said Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan, Rizal police director.

Cate and three other councilmen went to the barangay hall Thursday to enforce Zapanta’s suspension order by the provincial board. But Zapanta, a lawyer, did not budge, saying the order was not yet final and executory.

Zapanta is a supporter of re-electionist Antipolo Mayor Nilo Leyble, while Cate belongs to the camp of Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III.