Demolition team, informal settlers clash in Binondo, Manila

Binondo, Manila turned into a battlefield Monday between members of the demolition team and informal settlers resisting eviction from a private property they were occupying.

According to Sam Nielsen’s report on Super Radyo dzBB, the chaos broke out at around 3 p.m. at the Barcelona and Lavezares Streets in Binondo where over 30 families of informal settlers lived on a private lot.

PANOORIN:
Demolisyon sa Barcelona St., at Lavezares St., sa Binondo, Manila, naging marahas.Mga bote at molotov bomb, inihagis ng mga informal settlers sa mga pulis.@dzbb pic.twitter.com/u9oynB8pow

— samnielsen (@dzbbsamnielsen) October 21, 2019

At around 4 p.m., residents started throwing glass bottles and Molotov bombs at the demolition team.

A 20-meter stretch of road became covered in shards of glass after the protests.

A woman who claimed to be the daughter of the lot owner told GMA News that they have been allowing the informal settlers to live on their property for 45 years now.

They recently decided to reclaim the lot, but the informal settlers protested.

Some cops were injured, with one demolition team member reportedly rushed to the hospital due to excessive bleeding.

PANOORIN:
Mga basag na bote at bato, sinimulan ng linisin ng mga residente matapos mauwe sa marahas na sitwasyon ang tangkang demolisyon sa Barcelona St., at Lavezares St , Binondo, Manila.@dzbb pic.twitter.com/7tabXpOD0s

— samnielsen (@dzbbsamnielsen) October 21, 2019

The chaos died down at around 5 p.m. after some barangay officials proposed that the demolition be delayed until Tuesday morning.

Police will remain in the area for the rest of the day. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News