Tension grips Caloocan village after developer allegedly cut water supply

Residents of Pangarap Village in Caloocan City protested the sudden cut in water supply in the area allegedly by hired men of the land developer.

The villagers showed a CCTV footage with two men appearing to tinker an object attach to the ground, which they said was the water valve.  Two more men appeared in the footage, including one with long firearm.  His companion approached the CCTV and covered it with plastic.

“Nang maisara nila yun pinutol nila yung valve head para wag nang mapihit pa muli kaya nang mangyari yun na maputol, talagang wala na dahil di na mabubuksan,” Ronnie Mallari, a resident said.

“Napakahirap po, unang-una, yung init ng panahon lalo na yung mga senior natin hindi mapakali, yung mga nanay naman hndi na makalaba,” he added.

Due to this, the residents confronted the security personnel of Carmel Development Inc. as they were building an outpost.                             

No one was hurt during the melee, but additional local police personnel were deployed to ensure order in the area.

Caloocan City Mayor Along Malapitan said the local government will temporarily supply water to the residents.  He asked the concerned parties to talk about their dispute.

“Ang sa akin, sa inyo o hindi hanggat may nakatira diyan i-ano muna natin ibigay muna natin yung pangangailangan nila, yung laban niyo kung kanino yan korte na magsasabi,” he said.

The management of Carmel maintained it did not do anything illegal.

“Para sa amin wala kami pinutulan. We are not allowing any illegal operation inside the company’s private property yun lang yon,” Ryan Arojo, field operations manager of Carmel, said.

“Wala nang dispute ang area na yan decided na ng Supreme Court, two major decision, na ang pagmamay ari na yan ay sa Carmel Development Inc.,” he added.

He also said the company is willing to participate in any dialogue with the residents.

“Sana din maintindihan ninyo na Carmel Development Inc. is kung baga kumpanya na may karaptan din naman siya,” he said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News