On January 28th, more than 1000 forces of the Philippine National Police and demolition teams forcibly evicted and demolished the homes and livelihood of more than 200 residents of San Roque, North Triangle, Quezon City. Reports received allege that no prior notice was given to residents and that many families were left homeless as a result of the police action. An organization working to defend the rights of the urban poor in the cities of the Philippines, Defend Job is calling for solidarity in the form of appeal letters to the government of the Republic of the Philippines.
According to Defend Job, the demolition team used guns, tear gas and brute force. Several children reportedly suffocated as a result of the tear gas and were brought to hospitals with signs of trauma.
The evictions and demolitions at North Triangle, Quezon City are expected to continue in the following days. Since July 2010, more than 5500 families who are residents of Quezon City have faced continued threats of demolition and massive displacement to give way to the implementation of the Vertis North Project under the Quezon City Central Business District. The mega-development will include the construction of 45 towers consisting of commercial, condominium, hotels, retail shops and business properties.
Residents of the affected area have not remained passive in the face of these theats. On 23 September 2010, for example, more than 2000 demolition agents moved to demolish the homes of San Roque residents. However, the residents managed to prevent the demolition, thanks to their collective effort to form a human barricade out of 4,000 people in order to defend their community.
Please consider expressing your support here:
http://www.escr-net.org/node/365387
Melona R. Daclan
Campaign Director, Defend Job Philippines
Telephone: +63-02-3535760
Mobile: +639267856299 and +639289069223
Defend Job Philippines is a member of International Network for Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR Network)
