Violence mars Laperal Compound relocation efforts in Makati

Violence marred Wednesday afternoon the attempt of Makati City officials to relocate settlers who lost their homes to a fire at the Laperal Compound last week. Residents hurled rocks at members of the demolition team and at police who were taking part in the relocation efforts, radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo reported. Some members of the demolition team were also seen throwing the stones during the incident, the report added. A separate report on dzRH radio said traffic near the EDSA-Guadalupe area was snarled while the area was littered with debris due to the exchange as of 4 p.m., the dzRH report added. Before violence broke out, tension gripped the area as residents defied the city government's order for them to relocate instead of returning to the compound. City officials had declared the compound a danger zone following last week's fire there. The residents had blocked the exits to the Laperal Compound and faced off with demolition and relocation teams from the city government. Many of the residents insisted on returning to the compound even if they got P5,000 assistance from the city government in exchange for agreeing to be relocated. City officials had offered to relocate them to Bulacan and Laguna provinces, even as they forbade residents from returning because the area was deemed a danger zone. An earlier report said the residents refused to leave the Laperal Compound because there are no homes in the relocation sites. — RSJ, GMA News