Urban poor leaders of Balikwas Kadamay from Pasig with representatives from Karapatan, Bayan Metro Manila and Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas proceeded to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) main office at the University of the Philippines Diliman today.
They planned to seek a dialogue with CHR Chair Chito Gascon and file complaints on the violent dispersal of their anti-demolition protest last August 31 that led to the detention of 41 residents, including 10 minors, scores hurt and the destruction of their ‘kubol’, an area where the residents convene to discuss their situation.
The commissioners, however, were not available this morning. CHR National Capital Region Investigation Office chief Atty. Gilbert Boiser led the agency panel during the dialogue. He promised to go the site tomorrow to conduct probe on the complaints of the residents.
The residents also invited the CHR to observe and monitor the situation during the possible forced demolition in Manggahan Floodway from September 19 to 22.
The notice posted all over the community announced that residents should demolish their own homes from August 15 to September 22, but would be forcibly demolished if their structures are still up by August 31.
