Demolition in Zambales town displaces 100 families
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES—At least 100 families were displaced on Thursday after authorities, acting on a court order, tore down the houses inside a disputed former land reform property in Barangay Taltal, Masinloc town.
Among those affected were farmers and fisherfolk, five of whom were arrested after resisting the demolition.
According to Syrel Edu, public information officer of the local fisherfolk group Samahang Magsasaka at Mangingisda ng Barangay Taltal (SAMMBAT), the arrested residents were identified as Neil Edward Geroca, Claire Elfalan, Elmer Nollas, Elmer Madarang, and Alex Mose.
In an interview, Edu said the residents tried to block the demolition but were unable to stop authorities from tearing down their houses.
A total of 105 houses were demolished, leaving many families without shelter, he said.
“They said no one will get hurt but they were the first to hit us; they even pointed their guns at us,” Edu claimed.
Police Cpl. Eugene Yap, assistant investigator, said charges were filed against the five persons for obstruction of justice, resistance and disobedience to an agent of a person in authority, and physical injuries.
Yap recounted that at 11:45 a.m., the court sheriff attempted to negotiate with the residents, but they formed a human barricade to block the demolition crew.
“They tried to dismantle the human barricade but that’s when someone started throwing rotten eggs. Their leader threw at the demolition team member, so they decided to arrest them. They chased Geroca and got two pieces of Molotov cocktail from him,” Yap said in a separate phone interview.
Agrarian reform
Edu said the contested 32-hectare property in Sitio Togue is covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) had previously assured that it would be awarded to qualified beneficiaries.
However, a private developer petitioned for the land to be excluded from CARP, claiming it was unfit for agriculture.
“We are just fighting for this land that our ancestors who lived here before worked hard for,” Edu said.
In response to the developer’s petition, SAMMBAT filed a petition for revocation with the DAR Central Office.
But the residents still received a 15-day notice to vacate the property last month issued by Sheriff Roy Mendones of the Office of the Provincial Sheriff.
Mendones was acting on an order issued by Judge Cheryl Mae Macapagal-Manalo of the 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Masinloc and Palauig, dated May 22, to implement the demolition.
The farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) condemned what it called the “illegal” arrest of the five residents and the “ruthless” demolition of their homes.
“The violent demolition, arbitrary arrests, and relentless land grabbing reflect a systemic assault on the lives and dignity of rural communities. Instead of receiving protection and support, they are criminalized for defending their right to land, shelter, and survival,” KMP said.
