Nagkakaisang Residente ng Maysapang Homeowners Association Inc. (NRMHOAI) condemned the Taguig Philippine National Police (PNP) of Southern Police District after secretly distributing counterinsurgency pamphlets to residents following a so-called community outreach program in their community.
NRMHOAI president Girlie Caduco said that the outreach is not what the residents need.
“Hindi naman talaga iyan ang pangunahing pangangailangan dahil may banta kami ng demolition. Bakit kung kailan naman sa panahon na may ipinaskil na pitong araw na palugit sa amin ito ginagawa? Dapat noon pa nila iyan ginagawa,” said Caduco.
[That’s not really the primary necessity because we are under the threat of demolition. Why is it that only now, during the period when a seven-day grace period has been posted for us? They should have done that sooner.]
Last February 20, a seven-day eviction notice was put up stating that Maysapang residents are illegally occupying the land owned by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). But several residents has since occupied and developed their community for more than three decades just before BCDA claimed the land for expansion.
It was also last year in June when an eviction poster was put up while offering P50,000 as an “early bird bonus” to those who would self-demolish.
Maysapang community has been in constant land dispute marred by a series of harassment and physical violence between Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), now the Rehghis Romero-owned R-II Builders and MGS Consortium since 2015.
More than 550 families reside in Maysapang including homeowners, tenants, and sharers.
“Nakakabahala gawa ng imbis na pinaghahandaan namin na mag-ayos ng mga dokumento ay ipinapasok ang ganitong mga seminar na hindi naman makabuluhan. Isa pa, hindi naman taga-rito ang umattend, malinaw na nagagamit lang ang aming lugar para magmasid-masid sa galaw at kilos naming mga lider,” Caduco added.
[It’s alarming because instead of us focusing on preparing our documents, these seminars that are not significant are being introduced. Furthermore, the attendees are not even from here, clearly indicating that our area is being used just to conduct surveillance among our leaders’ actions and movements]
Some residents have reported cases of surveillance after the recently posted seven-day eviction notice.
They observed suspicious individuals offering ‘panambak’ or debris used for filling or selling cheap items while their eyes appeared to be wandering elsewhere.
In a recent incident, a resident confronted an individual who had been lingering near her store. When caught, the individual claimed to be an agent engaged in some activities within the area. The resident sought for identification but the individual quickly left the scene.
Caduco called for the residents to remain vigilant especially that they are still in the face of a demolition threat. She further stressed that their fight towards right to housing shall continue.
