40 hurt as violence mars demolition in San Juan

At least 40 people, including a local official, were injured as violence marred the demolition of a residential area in San Juan City Tuesday morning. Radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported that residents of Corazon de Jesus village threw rocks and water bottles at the demolition team and police, and barricaded roads leading to their homes along P. Narciso Street and Pinaglabanan Shrine. When the demolition team arrived at 8 a.m., the residents threw rocks and other hard objects at them, forcing them to run for cover. Police also dispersed tear gas at the residents, while firefighters sprayed water on the residents. The report also said some members of the demolition team threw back rocks and debris at the residents. San Juan City Engineer Danilo Mercado was hit in the head with one of the objects thrown by the residents. Many other residents, including children and boys, were injured during the clash, the report said. The houses in the area were to be demolished to pave the way for the new city hall. Earlier, San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez said some 50 families will be displaced by the ongoing road construction in the area. But the dzBB report quoted the residents in the affected area as saying there are more than 1,000 families who may lose their homes to the demolition. — RSJ, GMANews.TV