At least five injured as demolition turns violent in Caloocan City

At least five members of the Northern Police District, a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection rescue unit staff and a sherrif of the Caloocan Regional Trial Court were injured after violence erupted in a demolition operation in Calaanan Compound in Caloocan City on Tuesday.

A staff member of the Caloocan City Rescue Team said that five policemen were rushed to their tent during the first wave of the operation. They were identified as  namely PO1 Joseph Alalag, PO1 Ryan Manlalag, PO1 Angel Abalos, PO1 Virgilio Cabangis and a certain PO1 Bautista.

Also injured were FO3 Elizar De Villa and a sherrif of the Caloocan RTC. They both underwent medical treatment after sustaining minor wounds.

Most of them were later sent to a nearby hospital but only Cabangis was confined.

A medical physician said that Cabangis' left femur bone was severely fractured.

Cabangis complained of numbness from his thigh down to the entire left leg.

"Nakita ko yung mga bato, bakal, mga bote, kaya nagcover kami sa gilid eh may screen yun para nga di tumagod ang mga bato pero may nagpaputok eh. Naramdaman ko na lang na hindi ko na mailakad ang mga paa ko kaya bumagsak ako," Cabangis said.

An X-ray of Cabangis bone showed a bullet was lodged in his left femur.

Cabangis was transferred to PNP General Hospital for surgery.

His mother Remedios made an appeal to all protesters to calm down to avoid further violence, injuries and damage.

There were no reported injuries on the part of the resident protesters. -NB/KG, GMA News