Cops take cover behind their shields as settlers started pelting them with stones.
Demolition teams backed by anti-riot police clashed with informal settlers backed by militant groups along Agham Road in Barangay North Triangale in Quezon City on Monday morning.
Some of the residents, who were supported by members of groups Anakpawis and Kadamay, threw improvised explosives, broken glass bottles, stones, and pieces of wood at the advancing policemen, who responded by firing tear gas several times as they advanced on the shanties.
The police declined to give figures of those injured. But by Kadamay's count 23 residents were injured, seven of them children.
The residents had barricaded the area, near the Quezon Avenue side of the street, as early as 6 a.m..
Three members of the demolition team were injured in the commotion.
According to the Quezon City Police District, three residents were arrested. But according to Kadamay, nine were being held by police at an unknown locations.
The Quezon City government is set to demolish shanties along a kilometer-stretch of the road on the side opposite to the Office of the Ombudsman to give way to a project of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Authorities said the 120 families affected were already given notice as early as 2013.
But the residents said the demolition order was released in September and was valid only for 90 days. So it way past the period of validity.
They also refused to accept the relocation site offered in Montalban, Rizal.
Despite all the resistance of the residents, the demolition teams managed to complete half of their work.
They were hoping to complete the next day. - Miguel Ortilla
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