Adelyn Valenzuela, 43, and her family said they have every right to stay in the 1.7-hectare disputed land. Their family, she added, has been living there for 17 years now. Others have been living in the area for some 40 to 50 years now.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – Demolitions of urban poor communities are happening in Cavite too. Residents of Barangay Zapote III in Bacoor, Cavite, a city south of Manila, whose homes were demolished last June 25 refuse to leave the area and are determined to fight for their right to shelter.
Adelyn Valenzuela, 43, and her family said they have every right to stay in the 1.7-hectare disputed land. Their family, she added, has been living there for 17 years now. Others have been living in the area for some 40 to 50 years now.
On June 25, residents and members of the demolition team clashed as the latter carried out the demolition of some 77 houses. The disputed land is reportedly being claimed by Caesar Cosma, a television director, and Collet Development Corporation, Kadamay – Cavite said in a statement.
“We were offered P13,000 by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) but we did not accept it. If we accept the money and leave, it would hardly be enough to cover a month’s rent. We could earn that money,” Valenzuela said, “What we need is a home.”
Valenzuela said residents felt betrayed because despite the ongoing hearings of the Regional Trial Court of Bacoor regarding the disputed land, the demolition team arrived and demolished their homes.
Mark Duller, spokesperson of Bayan – Cavite, residents are “living in makeshift tents as if they were survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.” He added that children are already getting sick due to their exposure to the elements.
Hurt during demolition
“I was among those who were hurt. They pushed us and hit us with their truncheons. They brought firetrucks and hosed us with water canon,” Valenzuela said.
Kadamay – Cavite reported that among those who were hurt is a 16-year-old girl. There were also two others who passed out during the scuffle between the demolition team and the residents.
Duller told Bulatlat.com that they have received reports that both private and public hospitals in Cavite denied medical attention to the 16-year-old girl who was hurt.
“They did not want to provide her medico legal. Her family had to go to a hospital in Manila to have her checked,” Duller said.
Duller said authorities informed residents that the area should be cleared this week. Otherwise, he added, authorities would forcibly remove the remaining homes or debris in the community.
In a statement, Kadamay-Cavite criticized the Aquino government for the absence of a comprehensive program for the poor.
Harassment continues
Duller said about 20 security guards allegedly hired by private claimants are deployed in the community and are reportedly harassing residents.
Duller and two others are facing charges for obstruction of justice.
“I am ready to face whatever charges they would file as this is part of the state’s anti-people policies to persecute activists who are helping the people in their struggle,” Duller said.
Activists who are helping residents for their fight has been branded by local government authorities as outsiders who are instigating the people to fight.
Kadamay – Cavite, in a statement, said, “We are not surprised that the government, through the Philippine National Police, found it easy to demolish homes. For them, demolition is just mere destroying structures. They are forgetting that they are demolishing homes where families dream of rising from the impoverished conditions they are in.”
Apart from losing their homes to the demolition, Valenzuela said, her children’s schooling has also been affected while her husband could not go to work.
“Our belongings are all wet due to the heavy rain that occurred after the demolition,” she said.
Valenzuela said residents have repeatedly called on the local government to look into their situation but none has responded to their pleas.
She added, “We will fight for our homes even if they use violence against us.”
No, you do not have the right to occupy and live on land that someone else ownes. It does not belong to you, and you are depriving the legal, lawful owner of use of his land. You have absolutely no right to do that.