Tension remains high at QC demolition site; 12 hurt

A day after around 12 people were injured in a violent confrontation that marred a demolition operation, tension remained high at a residential area in Quezon City Friday. Despite a temporary restraining order halting the demolition, residents in Sitio San Roque II in North Triangle maintained their barricades, according to a report by dzBB's Allan Gatus. Members of militant groups including Kadamay and Anakbayan went to the area to provide support to affected residents, the report said. The demolition work was ordered to make way for a business center in the area. Residents rejected an offer by the National Housing Authority (NHA), which owns the land their houses stand on, to relocate them to Rodriguez (Montalban) in Rizal province. The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) maintained its stance to observe maximum tolerance, even as it waits for the court and NHA to determine when to resume the demolition work. At least 12 people, including police personnel, were injured Thursday when violent confrontation erupted between residents and members of the demolition team. The violence caused a traffic jam along nearby Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) was snarled, stretching back all the way to Cubao district. Meanwhile, QCPD head Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said they are waiting for the legal officers and the NHA to decide when they will resume the demolition work. Mantele reminded his men dealing with the residents not to carry firearms. He also reminded the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel who are authorized to carry firearms to stay at the sidelines. "They are not to have firearms except for the SWAT operatives, who will stay at the sidelines," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. — LBG, GMANews.TV