Report: Families in planned demolition picket San Juan city hall

Tension gripped the San Juan City Hall as residents who will be affected by an upcoming demolition staged a picket there early on Monday.

A report of radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen said traffic was snarled along N. Domingo Street in San Juan as residents marched to city hall to protest against the planned demolition. According to radio dzBB, the police and the protesters engaged in a shoving match just as the protest was about to end. One person was reportedly held for questioning. The demolition in Corazon de Jesus village is scheduled to begin in January. Members of militant groups were allegedly among the protesters, the report said. The police secured the city hall and kept the residents from getting to the office of Mayor Guia Gomez, the report said. At least 55 families are expected to be affected by the demolition but as many as 300 families could lose their homes, the report said. Gomez said the houses to be demolished are standing on government property. The residents rejected an offer from the city government to relocate them to Rizal and Laguna provinces. – VVP, GMANews.TV