Residents of Sarmiento St. in Sta. Mesa, Manila protested outside the Manila City Hall on Monday, June 22, as another round of forced demolition looms their community, according to residents.
Several houses were already demolished last June 16, where more than 100 families were left homeless. Some of the affected families have been staying in a covered court for six days already.
“‘Yung mga kapitbahay namin na nasira ang bahay nahihirapan ngayon dun sa covered court. Dahil dun sa pag-implement ni Engineer Bulano (ng demolisyon) nang wala namang kaukulang papeles. Ang hinarap niya sa mga kasama ko, certificate of compliance. Pero meron kaming pending case na nakabinbin ngayon sa Branch 24,” said Erwin Tagnong, treasurer of Sarmiento Sta. Mesa Neighborhood Association.
(“Our neighbors who lost their houses were forced to take shelter at the covered court. They are suffering because Engineer Bulano gave the green light to a demolition order without due papers. He only showed us a certificate of compliance. We still have a pending case at Branch 24.”)
In an interview with PTV-4, Manila City Engineer Joseph Bulano claimed the dismantling of houses underwent proper process to give way to a drainage project. Bulano said a relocation site in Pandi, Bulacan was also offered to the residents.
But residents refuted this claim. They also suspect the drainage project is just an excuse to give way to the expansion of a G-Liner bus terminal.
“May pending case kami, bakit hindi nirerespeto ‘yun? Bakit administrative order ang namamayani? Asa’n ang due process? (We have a pending case, why don’t they respect that? Why present us with administrative order instead? Where’s the due process?)” said Marites Escoto, paralegal officer of Sarmiento Sta. Mesa Neighborhood Association, as she showed her rage outside the city hall.
Tagnong also pointed out that their former judge inhibited from their case on May 7, but they have only known about it on June 10. Their case was then raffled, but the next judge also inhibited. Thus, no temporary restraining order was given to the residents.
“Meron pa rin pong kasunod na banta kasi yan ang binitawang salita ni Engineer Bulano, hangga’t wala kayong court order, pwede kaming magtibag (There’s still threat as stated by Engineer Bulano. He said that as long as there is no court order, we can be demolished,)” Tagnong added.
Tagnong also brought with him court documents, petition letters, and other related letters seeking help to Manila City Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, as proof that they also follow due process. He said they have already sent six letters to Mayor Estrada since June 2014, but were left unanswered. Thus, they decided to bring their fight to the city hall.
Their short program ended, and as residents went back to Sarmiento St., they said they will be building barricades to prevent the second round of demolition to happen.
