Bishop Pabillo asked to help evicted Muslim families in Baclaran

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Bishop Pabillo asked to help evicted Muslim families in Baclaran

15 June 2007. In a desperate move and very rare opportunity, some 332 evicted Muslim families in Baclaran have asked a Catholic Bishop to send their message to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and various government agencies.

Led by Abdelmanan Tanandato, president of Samahan Ng Nagkaka-Isang Na-Demolis Sa Roxas Blvd. Baclaran, P.C., Muslim leaders went to Sto. Niño Parish in Tondo yesterday to personally deliver a letter to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Housing Committee Chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The leaders are hesitant to directly deliver their letter to PGMA at the Malacañang receiving section for fear that it may only end up in the waste basket. “Humihingi po kami ng tulong sa inyo dahil wala na po kaming maisip na paraan upang makarating sa Pangulo ang aming liham,” Tanandato told the Bishop in a letter.

Tanandato requested Bishop Pabillo to send their message through Malacañang's Religious Affairs Office “Hindi na po kami lumapit sa Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) dahil ito po ang naging dahilan ng hindi makataong demolition at forcible eviction sa amin,” the letter read.

With an endorsement from Bishop Pabillo, the Muslim families hope to send their message to the government as quickly as possible to prevent bloodshed as a cause of a violent eviction that may be enforce by Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit.

Despite the P30,000 ‘disturbance pay’ being offered by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), many Muslim families opted instead to fight for their relocation. As a result, last June 7 several people were hurt as the demolition team and antiriot policemen pushed, shoved and battered their way into the human barricade formed by residents. The residents retreated to the Grand Mosque for sanctuary and struggled for days to save the Mosque from demolition.

At the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) last June 13, Muslim leaders together with the residents’ legal counsel Sultan of Lanao Firdausi Ismail Yahja Abbas filed criminal cases for unlawful demolition, interruption of religious worship, offending the religious feelings, less-serious physical injuries, grave threats and grave coercion, violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Charges were filed against Andrea Domingo (PRA General Manager / CEO), Oscar Sanchez (PRA Assistant General Manager), Chief Superintendent Sukarno Ikbala, Police Senior Inspector Lerpon Platon, Police Senior Superintendent Salim Sahiron and Senior Superintendent Marieto Valerio.

Lashing out at the government’s defiance to the CBCP Statement on the Nation’s Housing Problems and for failing to house the poor, the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization that monitors forced evictions, expressed concerns about increasing number of violent demolitions. “Thousands of poor families are being evicted by various government agencies now that the midterm election is over,” said Teodoro Añana, deputy coordinator of UPA.

According to UPA, the following areas seem certain to be cleared of urban poor settlers this year: C5, R-10 Navotas, Northrail and Southrail, Pasig River (10-meter easement) and Esteros.

UPA called on newly elected Senators and Congressmen for total involvement as legislators and housing rights advocates. “We seek improvements in the law but we realize good laws are not enough and that it requires strong political will to achieve results,” Añana said. -30-



*Letter to Bishop Pabillo

June 14, 2007


His Excellency
Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D.
Auxiliary Bishop of Manila


Dear Bishop Pabillo,

Humihingi po kami ng tulong sa inyo dahil wala na po kaming maisip na paraan upang makarating sa Pangulo ang aming liham. Hindi na po kami lumapit sa Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) dahil ito po ang naging dahilan ng hindi makataong demolition at forcible eviction sa amin.

Umaasa po kami na maipaparating ang aming mensahe kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo upang maiwasan ang anumang kaguluhan. Balita po kasi namin na lulusubin ng SWAT ang aming Mosque upang puwersahan po kaming paalisin at gibain ito. Hindi po namin masisiguro na walang mangyayaring karahasan pero kung hindi kikilalanin ang aming karapatan at paniniwala, baka po maaaring maging sanhi ito ng pagdanak ng dugo. Sa ngayon po ay binakuran na kami ng barb wire, pinutol ang kuryente at maiinom naming tubig. Maraming mga bata na sa ngayon ang nagkakasakit dahil dito.

Hindi po kami tutol na umalis sa Mosque kung meron po kaming relokasyon na malapit sa aming hanap-buhay at paaralan ng aming mga anak. Importante rin po na may maayos na paglilipatan ang aming Mosque.

Umaasa po kami sa inyong suporta.

Maraming salamat po.


Lubos na gumagalang,



ABDELMANAN D. TANANDATO
Pangulo
Samahan Ng Nagkaka-Isang Na-Demolis Sa Roxas Blvd. Baclaran, P.C.
Bgy. 76, Pasay City



*Letter to the President

Ika-13 ng Hunyo, 2007


Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President, Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace, Manila


Mahal naming Pangulo,

Umaasa po kami na mabuti ang inyong kalusugan, sampu ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay.

Sumulat po kami sa inyo para humingi ng tulong para sa aming mahirap at maselang kalagayan sa kasalukuyan, lalo na ang aming mga anak, mga kababaihan, at mga nakakatandang miyembro ng aming mga pamilya. Ito ay dahil sa nangyaring marahas, sapilitan, at hindi makataong demolisyon sa aming mga kabahayan noong ika-07 ng Hunyo. Ang masakit pa, pagkatapos ng demolisyon, pinutulan kami ng kuryente at tubig. Hindi kami makapaghanapbuhay at karamihan sa aming mga anak ay nawalan ng pagkakataong makapasok sa eskuwela sa taong ito. Maraming mga bata ang maysakit sa ngayon. Nagsisiksikan kaming tatlong-daang (300) pamilya sa Grand Mosque na nagsisilbing pansamantalang tirahan namin sa kasalukuyan.

Kaugnay po dito, walang pagtutol sa amin na paalisin kami kung may relokasyon sa mga pamilya at sa mosque. Hiling lang po namin na sana mabigyan kami ng pagkakataon ng ating pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ninyo bilang aming Pangulo.

Ang mga sumusunod ay nais naming hilingin sa inyo:

• Mabigyan kami ng relokasyon na malapit sa aming hanapbuhay.
• Irespeto ang presensya ng aming Grand Mosque. Tuparin ang pangakong lugar para sa relokasyon nito. Sang-ayon kami na ito ay ilipat sa Nayong Pilipino. Kung maaari, dagdagan ang laki ng lupa para sa mga pamilyang nawalan ng tahanan.
• Pagbabalik ng mga batayang serbisyo na pinutol kagaya ng tubig at kuryente. Huwag harangin ang water delivery truck na nagsu-supply ng tubig sa mga residente.
• Agarang pagpapadala ng gamot. Dumarami ang nagkakasakit lalo na ang mga bata.
• Ipatigil ang “harassment” na ginagawa ng PRA o Philippine Reclamation Authority. Tanggalin ang barbed wire na nakaharang sa paligid ng mosque. Delikado ito sa mga bata lalo na kung gabi dahil walang kuryente.
• Hayaang makapagtinda kami sa Baclaran habang hindi pa nakaka-recover sa nangyaring demolisyon. Hiling namin na ipatigil ang mga harassment na ginagawa ng MMDA. Humigit-kumulang 95% sa nademolis na pamilya ay vendors.
• Dagliang makagawa ng mekanismo kung saan makakahabol sa pag-aaral ang humigit-kumulang isangdaang (100) batang mag-aaral. Natigil ito nang mangyari ang demolisyon.
• Habang isinasagawa ang negosasyon, sana ay walang demolisyon sa mosque at huwag paalisin sa aming mga pamilyang pansamantalang nakatira dito.
Umaasa po kami sa inyong suporta at dagliang pagtugon sa aming kahilingan. Marami pong salamat.

Lubos na gumagalang,


Abdelmanan D. Tanandato
Pangulo
Samahan Ng Nagkaka-Isang Na-Demolis Sa Roxas Blvd. Baclaran P.C.
Brgy. 76, Pasay City



Copy Furnished:


Vice President Noli de Castro
Chair
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)

Purificacion C. Valera Quisumbing
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

Percival Chavez
Chairman
Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP)

Dr. Esperanza I. Cabral
Secretary
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Andrea Domingo
General Manager and CEO
Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA)

Undersecretary Sultan Yahya "Jerry" Tomawis
Executive Director
Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA)

Allan Panaligan
Mayor
Pasay City

Baclaran demolition

Settlement pay at relocation site sa mga na-demolish sa Baclaran kahapon, wala pa rin daw




Baclaran squatters resist cops in demolition




No relocation site for displaced Baclaran squatters




Demolition near Pasay Grand Mosque Center succeeds



Judge junks plea to halt Pasay demolition

800 residents lose homes in Baclaran demolition

Tension up in Baclaran as demolition teams ring Muslim community


Demolition targets Muslim community in Baclaran


PRA starts demolition in Baclaran Muslim area


Shanties destroyed in Baclaran Muslim community

Heavily armed cops help evict informal settlers in Baclaran Muslim area

Mosque spared as clearing drive goes on elsewhere


Court grants 60-day reprieve to Baclaran community


Pasay Muslims seek help from Catholic bishop

PRA to seek aid of Muslim cops

Thursday, May 31, 2007 MMDA illegal demolitions / violent forced evictions

MMDA continues creekside demolition in Quezon City




Solons tussle with MMDA demolition crew in Quezon City




QC Rep. Bingbong Crisologo at MMDA officer Bobby Esquivel, muntik nang mangpang-abot sa isang clearing operations




MMDA demolition of shanties starts




MMDA to continue demolitions on major roads




MMDA dismantles illegal structures in Quezon City




MMDA tears down signboards at a QC sidewalk




MMDA demolishes houses under bridge in QC




2 MMDA men hurt during Pasay clearing operations

South Korea concerned on plight of railway dwellers in RP

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South Korea concerned on plight of railway dwellers in RP

25 May 2007. Finance and Economy Ministry of South Korea has expressed concerns regarding the relocation of railway dwellers that were affected due to the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project.

“Our government is well aware of the importance of the issue of relocating local residents in that project, and we emphasize once more that we plan to continually watch to see whether it is being implemented according to international standards,” the Finance and Economy Ministry said in a letter sent to Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization that monitors evictions along the railways.

In order to relieve the transportation jam in Metro Manila and at the same time to develop parts of Metro Manila that were becoming slums, South Korea decided in December of 2003 to support the railway project. However it has consistently maintained the position that preparing and implementing adequate relocation for the residents alongside the railway is a precondition for providing support for the project.

“In spite of the continuing Philippine government requests to speed the implementation of the project we have had an international body inspect the conditions of the planning and implementation of the relocation,” the Finance and Economy Ministry said.

In order to monitor whether the relocation is fairly and adequately being carried, South Korea provided the budget for an expert on relocation who belongs to the Asian Development Bank to do a survey on the relocation conditions of the residents displaced by the project, their living conditions in the relocation sites, their degree of satisfaction, and the like.

A second evaluation of the relocation conditions took place last February and following the expert recommendations, South Korea linked the approval of a project purchase contract to provision of a quarterly report on relocation implementation and the possibility of ceasing disbursement of funds in case there would not be adequate and fair relocation.

According to the Finance and Economy Ministry, in the future as well, South Korea will continually monitor whether the railway project is carrying out relocation of the residents adequately according to international standards.

“Our government has already expressed its willingness to support the relocation plan but the Philippine government has not accepted it. If the Philippine government makes a request to support the provision of basic facilities in the relocation settlement we will positively consider it,” the Finance and Economy Ministry said.

“Nevertheless, since credit support is only possible when the receiving country is willing to receive it, at present it is difficult to provide support for the relocation. Our government will in the future also positively consider putting such a support plan on the table at inter-government meetings,” the Finance and Economy Ministry added.

According to UPA, a Philippine petition sent by the Koalisyon ng mga Samahan sa Riles Katimugan (KOSARIKA) was received in South Korea last March. The petition was presented by the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) Korea Committee to South Korean President ROH Moo-Hyun.

The Korean petition requested the President to suspend disbursement of funds for the railway project pending provision of adequate relocation. It mentioned that the World Bank also makes such stipulations, and that the human rights violations are detrimental to Korea’s foreign policy objectives.

On April 18, 2007, Park Mun-Su, a representative of the ACHR Korea Committee visited Mr. Kim Su-Hyun, the Secretary to the President for Social Policy. Mr. Kim arranged for them to meet with Mr. Song Seog-Jun, Assistant Secretary to the President for Civil Petitions & Institutional Innovation.

Mr. Song listened to the account of the terrible conditions suffered by those who have been affected by the railway project. He agreed with the petitioners that the infringement of human rights involved in the project really does counteract the intent of the project to nurture good relations between the two countries. Therefore the situation would seem to call for Korea’s concern over how the project is being implemented. -30-

02:54 PM

Urban poor sumugod sa Mendiola

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Urban poor sumugod sa Mendiola

9 May 2007. Magmula sa makasaysayang San Sebastian Church, nag-aapoy sa galit na sumugod sa Mendiola ang mga maralitang tagalunsod na nagmula pa sa ibat-ibang panig ng Metro Manila upang ipabatid sa Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang kanilang nais na pakikipagpulong upang matugunan ang mga suliraning bumabagabag sa kanila.

Naubos na umano ang kanilang pasensya sa kahihintay sa sagot ng pangulo sa kanilang mga sulat na ipinadala nuon pang Abril kung kaya’t minabuti na nilang mag-rally.

Ayon kay Evelyn Franco, kalunus-lunos ang kalagayan ng 914 pamilya na naninirahan sa kahabaan ng estero sa Paco at Pandacan, Manila matapos umanong mademolis ang kanilang mga bahay at sapilitang palayasin ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) magmula pa noong Pebrero.

Dahil walang ibang mapuntahan, napilitan silang tumira sa gilid ng kalsada kung kaya’t marami sa mga bata at may edad ang nagkakasakit. “Hindi namin gusto na matira sa ilalim ng tulay o estero ngunit dala ng kahirapan nagtitiis kami para mabuhay ng marangal at nagbabakasakali na mabago ang kalagayan namin sa buhay. Kung walang relokasyon, huwag naman sanang mag-demolis,” pakiusap ni Mrs. Franco.

“Libo-libo ang dinedemolis ng gubyerno at kadalasan pa ay marahas at walang binibigay na relokasyon. Ito ay mas madalas na nangyayari sa ngayon higit kailanman magmula nang maisabatas ang Urban Development and Housing Act,” ayon kay Atty. Bienvenido Salinas II ng Urban Poor Associates o UPA, isang non-government organization. “Ang ganitong mga gawain ay malinaw na paglabag sa Saligang Batas at sa mga United Nations covenants na ating nilagdaan.”

Kaugnay nito, nakiusap naman ang Arsobispo ng Maynila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales sa pangulo na tulungan ang mga grupo ng maralitang tagalunsod. “It is our fervent hope that their concerns and requests would merit Your Excellency’s favorable consideration. Whatever help you will extend to them will be greatly appreciated,” ayon sa sulat ng Cardinal.

Dahil sa sulat ng Cardinal, tila nabigyan naman ng pag-asa ang mga maralitang nagmula pa sa Caloocan, Maynila, Taguig at Navotas. Umaasa sila na dahil may suporta ng simbahan, sila ay haharapin ng pangulo. Kabilang dito ang Alyansa ng mga Samahan ng R-10 Navotas na nanindigan para sa mga pamilyang apektado ng Road Widening Project ng Department of Public Works and Highways.

Tinatayang 50,000 pamilya naman ang palalayasin sa riles mula Caloocan City hanggang Calamba para mabigyang daan ang rehabilitasyon ng Philippine National Railway (PNR). Ngunit ayon kay Evelyn Mojica, ang relocation sites ng gubyerno sa Towerville, Cabuyao at Trece Martirez ay hindi angkop dahil kulang sa batayang serbisyo tulad ng kuryente, malinis na tubig na maiinom at higit sa lahat ay mawawalan sila ng hanapbuhay dahil malayo sa dati nilang tirahan.

Dahil sa pagsusumikap ng Koalisyon ng mga Samahan sa Riles Katimugan (KOSARIKA) napakiusapan si Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga ng Taguig at Mayor Pedro Cuerpo ng Montalban na tanggapin ang mga apektadong pamilya. Kung kaya’t nais ng kanilang grupo na hilingin sa pangulo na utusan ang National Housing Authority na ibigay ang nakalaang pondo upang maumpisahan ang mga alternative sites.

Samantala nanawagan din ang mga biktima ng sunog sa Metro Manila sa pangulo upang ito’y magtakda ng batas na nagsasaad na maaaring bumalik sa dati nilang kinalalagyan ang sinumang biktima ng sunog. Ayon sa kanila, mortal na kaaway ng mga maralita ang sunog dahil tulad ng mga nadedemolis, sila ay napipilitang manirahan sa daan kapag walang relokasyon. -30-

UP residents stage protest action against demolition

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UP residents stage protest action against demolition

8 May 2007. Residents of villages inside the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City held a protest rally this morning to oppose the UP administration’s move to rid the campus of informal settlers.

The Nagkakaisang Lakas ng mga Maralita (NALAMA), a peoples organization from 20 barangays within the University, led the protest action at the Oblation in front of the UP Administration Building.

Residents were protesting the impending demolition that they said would eventually dislocate 25,000 urban poor families. Some residents said they have been in the area since 1970s.

Houses of at least 9 families in C.P. Garcia are set to be demolished this month tagging it as a tactic of UP at removing all informal settlers in the campus.

According to Urban Poor Associates (UPA), beginning in 2001 the people had negotiated with UP and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., and had arrived at a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that needed only the concurrence of UP’s Board of Regents.

“It seemed a win-win solution for all parties: the people would get land tenure security and eventual upgrading; the university would get easy access to all the land needed for education purposes and the people’s assistance in limiting the entry of additional poor families; the city would get 25,000 families settled at very little cost. Land security would be long-term leases. The mayor would supply infrastructure – light, roads, drainage etc.,” the UPA said in a statement.

But before the Regents could vote, a change was made in the university’s administration. The new administration issued a series of policy papers that outlined a 180% turn in their mode of relationships with the urban poor, whom they described as enemies of UP.

The papers said the university would no longer negotiate with the poor and would hire more guards and evict rather than negotiate a solution to urban poor problems. The university’s new officials refused to meet with the poor for meaningful discussions.

What the administration proposes are: that demolitions be accepted, if not supported, by the academic community as a politically correct option; that UP will rule out relocation, on site development and other negotiating stances that alienate land and violate the UP Charter.

The UP administration has invoked its exemption from the coverage of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) which requires government to relocate families it evicts.

The House of Representatives legal office led by Parañaque City Congressman Eduardo Zialcita has said UP is not exempt. “While it may be true that UP lands are exempt from the operation of UDHA (RA 7279) with respect to the eviction of informal settlers, the university is not however exempt from the constitutional requirements of prior consultation with those who will be affected by the demolition and consequent resettlement and the just and humane manner of effecting the same under Section 10, Art. XIII of our fundamental law.” -30-

Urban poor set to march to Mendiola

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Urban poor set to march to Mendiola

Urban poor families in Metro Manila are set to march to Mendiola on Wednesday (May 9, 2007) beginning 9:00 in the morning to urge President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to meet with them.

The people have sent various letters to President Arroyo endorsed by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales asking for a meeting but to no avail.

Representatives of the urban poor groups want to hold a dialogue with Mrs. Arroyo to make her aware of their problems.

Hundreds of families, for example, are now living in the streets after their houses built along esteros in Paco, Manila were demolished by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). There was no relocation.

Evicting poor families without adequate relocation violates not only the Constitution but also the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) and the United Nations covenants.

Thousands of families living along the railroad tracks in Manila, Caloocan and Taguig wants the demolition of their houses stopped until the government considers in-city / near-city relocation sites as alternatives to its distant relocation sites (Cabuyao / Towerville / Trece Martirez) where life is extremely hard. They want the National Housing Authority (NHA) to hand over the funds it holds to Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga of Taguig and Mayor Pedro Cuerpo of Montalban who have agreed to accept the families and let them do the relocation work.

Urban poor communities in Navotas that were burnt out by fires were told they cannot return to the area. This effectively puts them in the streets, and again violates the law.

The people will gather at 8:00 AM onwards. We hope the police will permit the march. The presence of media will help ensure calm.

Date: May 9, 2007 (Wednesday)

Time: 9:00 AM

Assembly Point: San Sebastian Church, Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila