Urban poor militants try breaking into Malacañang

MANILA, Philippines - About 14 members of a militant group tried breaking into Malacañang premises on Saturday to get the attention of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on demolition problems being faced by urban poor communities. Protesters from the Kilos Maralita group picketed in front of gate seven of Malacañang before they tried entering Palace premises. The two policemen guarding the Palace gate were no match to the shouting protesters campaigning against squatter ejection in Metro Manila. The group said its protest coincided with the 17th year passage of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act. The protesters are against the law, saying its implementation has caused unrest among thousands of poor Metro Manila residents. Section 27 of the law mandates local government units "to identify and effectively curtail the nefarious and illegal activities of professional squatters and squatting syndicates." The group said people from rural areas continue migrating to cities because of the government's failure to develop the countryside. "Kakulangan at kamalian ng ating gobyerno at ng sistema na hindi paunlarin ang kanayunan, natual lang na nagiging magneto na ang siyudad na puntahan ng mga tao," said one of the protesters. Police dispersed the protesters at about 11 a.m. Colonel Jimmy Tiu of the Manila Police District said authorities had decided to temporarily close Mendiola bridge to the public, until they were sure that there would no longer be another protest within the Palace area. - Kimberly Tan, GMANews.TV