Tension in QC neighborhood as residents decry demolition

Tensions rose after authorities demolished a residential area along a portion of NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan in Quezon City on Thursday afternoon. 

According to the report of Super Radyo dzBB’s Isa Avendaño-Umali, the said residential area was earlier hit by a fire. 

Cops in riot gear from the QC Police District were present during the demolition as displaced residents carried with them their belongings. 

Some residents became emotional after they were evicted from their homes. 

One resident lamented that authorities could have handled the situation better. 

“Wala ngang staging area na binibigay sa mga tao eh. Hindi pa rin nila nakausap yung hindi nasunog yung bahay. Nasunugan po kami. Kaya nagtataka yung mga tao, bakit may ganito ng ginagawa sa lugar namin?” she said. 

(They didn't even provide a staging area for the people. They also haven't spoken to those whose houses weren't affected by the fire. We were fire victims. That’s why people are wondering—why is this being done to our community?) 

“Kanina nakikipag-usap kami sa pinaka-head sa city, bigla niya kaming tinalikuran. Nagulat kami kasi nakikipag-usap kami, bigla siyang tumalikod,” she added. 

(Earlier, we were trying to talk to the head official from the city, but he suddenly turned his back on us. We were shocked because we were in the middle of a conversation and he just suddenly walked away.) 

The concerned resident also said that there’s no relocation site provided for them. 

“Tapusin nila yung proseso. Ayun din yung pakiusap namin kanina sa kagawad na bumaba dito - tapusin niyo yung proseso, susunod naman po yung mga tao. Papayag naman po. Pero katulad po nung relocation, hindi pa maayos,” she said, adding that why the demolition was done on a holiday. 

(They should finish the proper process. That was also our plea earlier to the barangay official who came down here—finish the process, and the people will follow. We will agree to it. But things like the relocation site, for example, are not yet settled.) 

“Inaawat namin yung tao na hindi kami magsisimula ng gulo. Pero sila yung nag-push paharap sa amin…Human rights ba ito na matatawag? Kapag yung mga taong taga-squatter, walang karapatan. ‘Pag sa gobyerno, sila lang ang pakikinggan?” 

(We were holding the people back so we wouldn't start any trouble. But they [the authorities] were the ones who pushed forward against us... Can this even be called 'human rights'? When it comes to informal settlers, we have no rights. If it's the government, they are the only ones who get heard?) —RF, GMA News