DILG to probe reports syndicate behind demolition protest in QC

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Monday that it will look into reports that a professional squatting syndicate is agitating and funding resistance efforts of informal settlers who are not under the government’s relocation program.

DILG Undersecretary Francisco Fernandez issued the statement after Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista bared that the remaining  families along Agham Road who barricaded the corner of Quezon Avenue are being aided by professional squatters.

Bautista alleged that the squatting syndicate asked P1,000 from each family in return for helping them resist demolition.

"We will have to look into this and file charges if necessary," Fernandez said.

Around 6,000 of the 10,000 families in the vicinity of Agham Road have already been relocated to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan through the joint efforts of the DILG, the National Housing Authority, the National Anti-Poverty Commission, and the Quezon City government.

Of the 10,000 family-beneficiaries of the government's relocation program, 4,000 opted to stay at Agham Road.

Bautista earlier said in a radio interview that those who barricaded and caused a monstrous traffic jam in the area are the remaining informal settlers backed up by the syndicate.

"May mga leader ng squatting syndicate dyan na ayaw umalis at hinihimok pa yung iba na mag-stay kasi mawawala yung raket nila dyan. Bukod sa pautang sa construction materials tulad ng hollow blocks, may naglalakad din dyan upang mabigyan sila ng kuryente at tubig na pinababayaran buwan-buwan,"Bautista said.

"Itong mga sindikato na ito ang nangangalap ng P1,000 bawat pamilya upang pondohan ang ibang tao para tulungan sila na i-block yung mga demolition teams ng pamahalaan," he added.

Bautista said that those who have transferred to San Jose Del Monte are now enjoying decent housing provided by the government which is payable at P200 a month for 25 years.