Tension broke out after around 500 houses were demolished at Arroyo Compound in Barangay Matina Crossing, Davao City morning on Friday, February 27, 2026.

Some residents, particularly members of the Lastima family, confronted the demolition team led by a sheriff.

The Lastima family questioned the enforcement of the demolition, claiming that they have a title.

“Dili ni peke, original ni title ni nga wala pa na-cancel…. kay datu man sila, gi-declare nila’g cancelled kay dili nani agriculture nga dapit commercial na kuno pero kung commercial, wala nami ktungod mo-file as commercial o residential? Kinahanglan na lang gyud i-TY mi? Ang kahago sa akong lolo?” a resident affected, Lady Jade Lastima, said.

The Lastima family and their legal counsel were presented with a court order dated 2015 and were instructed by the sheriff to visit the office for clarification.

Barangay Chairman Joel Santos attempted to calm the heated situation.

“Basin makuan nato mahangyo masamok man murag samok ang dating focus sa katong walay problema murag ana siguro,” Santos said.

The demolition team proceeded with tearing down the houses, most of which were made of light materials.

Majority of the residents affected voluntarily dismantled their houses because they had no legal documents to present. Some of them had to place their belongings by the road after being displaced.

“Dapat ang gibuhat nila gitagaan mi og lugway di man ingon nga di mi mohawa. Mohawa man mi unta naay maluoy saamoa sa gobyerno sa Davao kang Mayor Baste unta mohatag silag kaluoy sa mga tao,” an affected resident said.

Police officers were also deployed in the area to maintain peace and order, with instructions to observe maximum tolerance.

“May instruction ako kahapon na observe maximum tolerance para wala tayong magiging problema dito sa pag-demolish sa lugar. Supreme Court decision na ito. We should follow the ruling of the Supreme Court,” Davao City Police Director (DCPO) Acting City Director, Col. Mannan Muarip, said.

According to a representative of the Lui family, who claims ownership of the property, the Lastima family’s title was canceled in 2006 as they were allegedly not the original tenants, and the land classification had changed from agricultural to commercial.

Among the residents affected, only the Lastima family holds a title as their house was located within an area covered by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The Lui family reportedly prepared 20 hectares of relocation sites since 2019.

“Since 2019 naa mi tulo ka relocation site first namong itukod kay talomo river calinan then tacunan ug ang past is Dacudao calinan” Lui family’s representative, Ariel Marañon, said.

The family said it is processing documents to finalize the property endorsement to the community.

“Naka-sched siya late this year ma prep namo ang deed of donation para ma-endorse na namo ang property sa community ginahulat na lang namo ang registration sa ilang association,” Marañon added.

Based on the court document shown to the media, the demolition stemmed from a Supreme Court resolution in May 2025, which reinstated the February 5, 2015 writ of possession.