Forced eviction of Makati compound residents condemned

Friday, April 29, 2011

MANILA -- Gabriela Women’s Party condemned the violent eviction of the urban poor community in Laperal Compound, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati, injuring at least 19 individuals.

“Residents of Laperal Compound witnessed how the local government office views informal settlers in the city of Makati as no better than sewer rats,” Gabriela Representative Emmi De Jesus said.

On April 19, fire razed some 900 houses in Laperal Compound leaving around 2,500 families homeless.

On Thursday, the Makati government proceeded to demolish their homes saying they are living within a danger zone.

“Before the Laperal fire, it has come to my office’s attention that a series of fire incidences have razed urban poor communities in Metro Manila from July 2010 to the first quarter of 2011. Majority of these communities have pending demolition orders by the local government units,” De Jesus said.

Some of these incidents involved 400 houses in North Bay Boulevard, Navotas City; 1,500 families in Barangay Central, Quezon City; 300 houses in Sitio Tuklas, Cupang, Muntinlupa City and more families in BIR Road, Barangay Central, Quezon City. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)