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14 June 2011
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Loretta Ann “Etta” P. Rosales today made a “surprise visit” to look into the condition of some 170 families in Morales Pader, Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Pasig City. Said residents were displaced as a result of a violent confrontation between the demolition team and residents who were staging a prayer vigil at that time. The confrontation which took place on June 6, 2011 upon the directive of the city government of Pasig left ten (10) people wounded.
The affected families sought CHR assistance claiming that they have been living in the now demolished compound for a period of 20-30 years. According to the residents, they were not previously consulted by the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) or any representative of the local government regarding its demolition plan. The disadvantage, to put it mildly, is apparent to the families of Morales Pader. Together with some of their personal belongings, the families, and especially the children, are camped in two (2) nearby basketball courts facing the perils of health and nature. As of today, these families complain of the lack of support from the City of Pasig. In the light days that the courts have been their residing camp, only twice were they able to receive the meager food supply from said city government. The water supply, if not for assurance from these affected residents was almost cut-off. They have complained about not being visited by the health personnel of the city, especially those camped in the basketball court constructed without roof. Children sleep on wet floors and camp surroundings. The residents receive remarks from local government officials that they should already move out.
“We need to address the concern of these people whose primary need is to have a decent house which is one of the basic human rights of individuals. We need not have any bloody confrontation during demolition. Demolition without a clear relocation site, satisfying decent standards of living is violation of human rights and is illegal,” the CHR head intoned.
“The CHR reiterates its stance that should there be house demolition, here must always be a clear policy on where the residents will stay or there must be a ready relocation site for them to continue living their life which will in turn be beneficial to the community,” the independent constitutional body head said.
CHR Chair will conduct a dialogue with the leaders of the community as well as representatives of the Pasig City government and other concerned agencies to come up with a win-win solution on the issue.
Displaced residents bat for a long term solution to the problem—a decent relocation site such as the MMDA compound just within their demolished compound. They dismiss the idea of relocating them to the province due to lack of livelihood and other opportunities.
In addition, they also request for security against threats of immediate displacement . The CHR will schedule an inter-agency dialogue to include representatives from the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine National Police (PNP), among others.