2 arrested for resisting demolition in QC

Two people were arrested on Wednesday after they clashed with anti-riot police escorting a team deployed to demolish houses of informal settlers in Quezon City. Those arrested, one of which was identified as Jason Celso, were brought to the Quezon City Police District for interrogation, a report aired over GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali" said. Celso and his still unidentified companion may face charges for obstruction and resisting arrest, the report added. Violence earlier marred the demolition of houses in San Rafael compound in Old Balara after residents set up barricades and resisted the anti-riot police and the demolition team. The residents complained of lack of financial assistance and a relocation site from the government and Susana Realty, which owns the land. Despite resistance from residents, the demolition team was able to penetrate the area around 11 a.m. Wednesday and began dismantling about 700 houses in the area, the television report said. The demolition was held by virtue of a writ of demolition issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 22. Relocation site In an earlier interview on GMA News TV's "News to Go," Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista told anchor Sandra Aguinaldo that they were informed by the owner of the land that there was indeed a relocation site for the informal settlers. "Meron naman talagang kinikilala na relocation site para dun sa mga tao. Iyun ho ang hinihingi namin. In fact, anytime soon, we will convene the Judiciary-Executive Advisory Board as suggested by the court na pag may ganitong mga sitwasyon, e nape-prepare naman natin yung mga tao," he said. Bautista, however, did not mention where the relocation site is.

PNoy worse than Arroyo Following the demolition in Old Balara, an anti-demolition alliance complained of the Aquino administration’s treatment of the urban poor. Carlito Badion, vice chairperson of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), said President Benigno Aquino III is “worse" than his predecessor, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in dealing with informal settlers. "He is obviously worse than Arroyo looking at his treatment to the urban poor… As long as his penchant for neoliberal and anti-poor policies remain as the frameworks of his development programs, he can never lead the millions of poor Filipinos out of poverty," Badion said in a statement Wednesday. He added that the urban poor should consider Aquino as a “persona non grata" in their respective areas. "Starting this day, he [Aquino] should think twice before entering any slum area, that he has always wanted to get rid off," he said. In September last year, a large-scale demolition took place in Quezon City North Triangle to pave the way for the development of the city’s central business district. At least 14 people were hurt when police and residents clashed during the incident. President Aquino, who was in a state visit in the United States at the time, eventually ordered the National Housing Authority (NHA) to halt the demolition and find a relocation site for the displaced residents. — RSJ, GMA News