Killed
- 1
Seriously injured - 39
Arrested illegally - 33:
8 - of minor age
2 - female
1 - senior citizen
No. of families - 28,000 (or, about 120,000 people)
Land area - 9.7 hectares
2004 – Silverio
Compound expropriated by Resolution Ordinance #03-07 (806) of the City of
Paranaque for transfer/sale to residents
Marso 7, 2012 - First time that demolition was started to prepare the way
for the Henry Sy condos
April 13, 2012 – Residents received order to vacate premises within 10
days.
/p
/p
Photos courtesy of Chantal Eco, Ivy Buenaobra,
Jun Santiago CSSR, Kadamay NCR,
KJ Dumapit,
and Tuidla Productions as indicated by the filenames
Residents of Silverio Compound march to Parañaque City Hall
to protest demolition
April 12,
2012
Urban poor group slams uprooting of residents for Henry Sy's new
condominium building. Following the cutting of pine trees for the parking
lot of SM Baguio, residents were issued a notice to vacate the 9.7 hectare
land by the Paranaque police yesterday subsequent to the recent demolition
last March 7, 2012. Silverio compound housed 25,000 families and is now in
danger of demolition. Pocket demolitions have been used by many greedy
businessmen and LGU's to hamper the unity of the people.
Photos and text by Jun Santiago, CSSR
x'
Silverio Compound: A fight for the
right to live BAYANB
Posted on 27 April 2012 by admin
The
Silverio Compound demolition in Parañaque City was the most brutal in
recent memory, leaving at least one dead and some 36 hurt, mostly by
gunshot wounds. Some 33 residents and protesters were also arrested,
including seven minors and two women. Twenty-nine of them were eventually
charged with resistance and disobedience to a person in authority and
disturbance of public order. While some of the wounded were brought to
various hospitals, many others refused to seek proper medical attention
out of fear of being arrested or simply due to lack of money.
Negotiations
On April 23, residents blocked certain portions of
Silverio Compound as early as 5 a.m. The main barricade was set up at
Purok 4, which fronts the SM Hypermart. By 7 AM, five 6×6 trucks each
carrying 30 to 40 policemen from the Parañaque City Civil Disturbance
Management Unit (CDMU) along with two fire trucks began arriving in the
area. They were backed by several members of the police’s Special Weapons
and Tactics unit (SWAT) who were armed with high-powered assault rifles.
By around 7:30 AM, many residents had already occupied Sucat Road, which
was meant to cause traffic and delay the demolition. A demolition team of
some 50 men arrived at about 8 a.m.
Initial findings of the emergency fact-finding mission (FFM) conducted by
the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) several hours after the bloody
incident show that members of the CDMU provoked the violent confrontation.
Prior to the hostility, leaders of the residents and local politicians
Cong. Edwin Olivarez, former Cong. Ed Zialcita, and Councilor Eric
Olivarez were negotiating with the police (talks began at around 9 a.m.)
to suspend the demolition as the Silverio compound is the subject of a
pending court case. The CDMU, on the other hand, was asking the protesters
to free up a portion of the road to let vehicles pass.
Gun shots
Despite ongoing negotiations to suspend the demolition
and willingness of residents to heed the police’s request to allow traffic
flow, the CDMU prepared to turn toward the direction of the protesters at
past 10 a.m. Witnesses also said they saw men secure the local
politicians, which indicated that the police was getting ready to move.
Thinking that the CDMU was about to disperse them, the residents started
to hurl stones at the police. Eventually, the police responded by firing
teargas toward the direction of the protesters. Accounts claimed that the
police fired more than 10 teargas canisters.
The CDMU and SWAT members were forced to backtrack a
bit but moments later, gun shots were heard, apparently fired by the
police, sporadic at first and then in succession. The string of gun shots
forced protesters to back down and run away while the CDMU and SWAT teams
advanced and began arresting people. One person – later identified as
21-year old Arnel Leonor, a resident of Silverio Compound – was seen lying
on the pavement, with what appeared to be a fatal gunshot wound in the
head. He was brought to a hospital by the police many minutes later but
was declared dead on arrival.
Violations galore
The atrocities committed by the police did not end in
the indiscriminate shooting of the residents that killed Leonor and
wounded others. Many of those who were already apprehended or subdued were
still assaulted by the angry police. They were truncheoned, punched,
kicked and slapped at whim by the arresting officers. These were captured
by the media who were covering the incident. Worse, the arrests were
arbitrary; the police picked up anyone they wanted. Some of those arrested
and assaulted by the police were mere onlookers. They said they did not
run away because they did not participate in the protest and thus thought
will not be arrested, much less assaulted by members of the CDMU.
Arbitrary house-to-house searches were also carried out
by the police to look for more people to pick up. Witnesses claimed that
some police officers again fired their guns during these house searches.
The demolition team, meanwhile, pushed through with the demolition of
several stalls and houses.
Private profits over public housing
This bloody incident could have been prevented had
Mayor Florencio Bernabe respected the original agreement between Silverio
Compound residents and former Mayor Joey Marquez that the entire
9.7-hectare property will be used for socialized housing. This means that
the 28,000 families occupying the property will just amortize the land to
the Parañaque City government. It was Marquez who, in 2003, initiated the
expropriation proceedings by virtue of an ordinance against Silverio
Compound’s private owner Magdiwang Realty Corp. But Bernabe changed the
plan, reduced the size for socialized housing to 3 hectares, and pushed
for the construction of 32 medium-rise condos that can only accommodate
some 1,900 families.
Bernabe is pushing for a public-private partnership
(PPP) project for Silverio Compound, eyeing big developers including SM
Development Corp. (SMDC) to build the medium-rise buildings and other
infrastructures in the area. The remaining 6.7 hectares of the property
will also be devoted for commercial development in a bid to entice private
investors in the city. Clearly, this is a case of the local government
prioritizing private profits over the people’s basic right to shelter.
Impunity
The blatant disregard for human rights displayed by the
police involved in the incident speaks volume of how deep the culture of
impunity has been ingrained among our law enforcers and security forces.
To end this culture of impunity, those who are involved, directly and
indirectly, and not only members of the SWAT and CDMU but even police and
civilian officials, in the tragic Silverio Compound demolition must be
held liable.
What is alarming is that recent developments point to
the regrettable possibility of a whitewash. National officials, for
instance, are now seemingly conditioning the public mind that Leonor could
have died from a bullet fired by one of the protesters. Supposedly, one of
those arrested tested positive for gunpowder. Only an independent probe of
the incident, including a re-autopsy of Leonor’s body by an independent
party, could provide a more credible finding.
There is no doubt that the police used excessive force
in enforcing the demolition order. Their abuses have been well-documented
by media outfits who covered the incident and their identities could be
easily established. Bernabe, on the other hand, clearly abused his power
in insisting to implement the demolition. There are more than enough
grounds to immediately make these people accountable.
Call for support
While the residents of Silverio Compound remain
undaunted by oppression and brutality, they need all the support that they
can muster to ensure that justice will be served. At the same time, they
also need assistance – medical, legal, etc. – to help them cope with the
tragedy inflicted on them by institutions that are supposed to uphold
their rights and promote their interests.
The people of Silverio Compound, like those in other urban poor
communities who have been dislocated or threatened by PPP projects that
only profit the few, are fighting not only for their homes but for their
right to live as human beings. All those who value this very fundamental
human right could not allow them to fail. (end)
Statement of HK OFWs on the
violent attacks against residents of Silverio Compound by United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
We vehemently condemn in the strongest terms the violent dispersal of
residents and stall owners of Silverio compound in Paranaque by the
combined forces of the police, paid goons and security agents of business
tycoon Henry Sy. The excessive use of force, firepower and unnecessary
physical attacks applied resulted to the deaths of four civilians namely
Bodging Isaias (16 yrs old), Rodman Ortega (16 yrs old), Raymond Aquino
(36 yrs old) and Arnel Leonor (21 yrs old). Around 30 people were
illegally arrested while at least 39 were severely injured only because
they are defending their homes and livelihood from demolition.
Our hearts are filled with anger seeing the PNP and SWAT agents firing
their automatic rifles to unarmed civilians. Yes, they may be throwing
rocks, but it is not an excuse for the police to open fire in a crowded
civilian population. Nor is it an excuse to beat up those who were already
accosted.
The violence did not start from the residents of Silverio compound who
despite the government’s failure to provide them decent jobs and
livelihood are still trying to make their living by selling items from
their makeshift shops and stalls. It started when their only source of
livelihood is threatened by greedy business tycoons like Henry Sy backed
by the Aquino government and local government officials.
What can be more violent than the threat of losing their only source of
survival? Is Henry Sy dying of hunger and running out of income that he
can no longer let the poor residents of Silverio compound permanently
stay? Henry Sy and his SM empire are not only willing to bring down trees
for car park expansion like in SM Baguio but they are also capable of
bringing down people to advance their business interests.
But more than the greed of Sy and SM, it is the government of Noynoy
Aquino who should be made accountable to the violence suffered by the
Silverio compound residents. This government’s failure to ensure social
equity and its pro-capitalists policies like the Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) that favor greedy businesses gave the local government
and the police the signal to violently disperse the residents.
This is not the first time under the Aquino
administration that the interests of foreign and local big businesses and
the rich are favored at the expense of the lives and livelihood of the
poor. Early this year, the residents of Corazon de Jesus in San Juan,
Metro Manila were violently dispersed by more than 400 policemen backed by
a mob of paid demolition team and security agents. Despite their
resistance, they were forcibly moved out of their residence and their
homes were destroyed leaving thousands homeless and jobless.
It is also not the first in the history of the blood-tainted record of the
Cojuangco-Aquino family that the poor ended up dead and injured so that
the rich can protect their excessive land and profits. We remember the
Mendiola Massacre in 1987 and we remember the Hacienda Luisita Massacre in
2004.
The incident today in Paranaque is one concrete manifestation of the
social injustice long suffered by the poor majority of the Filipino
people. With the Aquino government’s big business- and landlord-friendly
policies, more of these are bound to happen.
We demand justice for the victims of the violent demolition of the
Silverio compound. The city mayor, the police commanding officer and
business tycoon Henry Sy should be made accountable for the deaths and
injuries suffered by the residents of Silverio compound.
We are also calling on all OFWs around the world together with our
families to boycott SM and all the businesses of Henry Sy including
remitting from Banco de Oro in response to the series of his anti-people
and anti-worker business ethics and practices. We shall coordinate with
OFW organizations around the world for actions that shall expose the
murder of rights and lives by the Sy business empire.
As major contributors in the Philippine economy, we OFWs do not want to
see our remittances being used to finance the immoral business expansion
of the SM empire. We shall not let our hard earned money be used by big
businesses to trample on other poor people and by the government to equip
and arm the goons and thugs in the national police force and the
military.#
For reference: Dolores T. Balladares
Chairperson, UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK
Tel. (852) 97472986
Youth groups protest at SM MOA vs demolition in Silverio Compound where
Henry Sy's condos will be built
April 19, 2012
Youth groups led by Anakbayan-National
Capital Region held a flash mobilization in front of SM Mall of Asia to
protest the impending demolition in Silverio Compound, Parañaque City and
cutting of 182 pine trees in SM Baguio. Around 25,000-28,000 families will
be affected in the planned demolition in Silverio Compound where Henry
Sy's condominiums under SMDC will be built.
Protesters were immediately dispersed by the mall's security guards. On
the other hand, security guards attempted to prevent photographers and
cameramen from taking photographs and videos of the protest.
Photos and text by KJ Dumapit
x
Office of Representative Antonio L. Tinio
ACT Teachers Party-List
House of Representatives
NEWS RELEASE
April 24, 2012
Reference: ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio L. Tinio (0920-922-0817)
Party-List Solon Calls for the Investigation of the
Violent Expulsion of Silverio Residents
ACT Teachers Party-List Representative Antonio L. Tinio condemns the
brutal expulsion of the residents of Silverio Compound, Paranaque. The
violent dispersal resulted in one fatality, several injuries and damage to
some properties.
The local government’s demolition team, backed by armed policemen were
barred by the residents from entering and destroying what has been the
Silverio Compound residents’ home for years now. The tension between the
demolition team and the residents of the area resulted in a violent
exchange of rocks and blows. As the residents fought for their homes,
their families and their livelihood, the police and the demolition team
responded with excessive beatings and even resorted to the throwing of
tear gas.
Arnel Leonor Tolentino, a resident of Silverio, died of a gunshot wound to
the head as confirmed by Philippine Red Cross Secretary- General Gwendolyn
Pang. Witnesses say that Tolentino was not part of the protest and was
only an onlooker. Residents, including minors, were injured as policemen
used truncheons and guns against the protesters, as videos clearly show on
national television. Some of the residents were also arrested for police
investigation. The police continued to hit even those who were already
handcuffed. Members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) were also
spotted by the residents meandering around the area..
ACT Teachers Party-list, together with other members of the MAKABAYAN
Coalition in the House of Representatives, filed House Resolution No. 2072
to investigate the brutal dispersal of the residents of Pinaglabanan, San
Juan. The Resolution stressed that rules and regulations must be followed
by the police and other entities conducting the demolition. Rules must be
followed prior to the conduct of the demolition, rules of engagement and
criminal, administrative, or civil liabilities for violations of the same.
The progressive solons called for an moratorium on all demolitions and the
implementation of a comprehensive social housing and livelihood program
for the poor.
“There must be an independent investigation to identify those accountable
for any excesses against the Residents of the Silverio Compound. The
manner in which the police and the demolition team dispersed the residents
clearly violates the general rules governing police response during
protest actions, prohibiting the police from carrying guns and other
weapons other that riot sticks and helmets,” Rep. Tinio said.
Although Henry Sy denies any connection to the property in question,
residents insist that nobody, not even a business magnate can rightfully
claim the land where their houses are built because they have already been
awarded titles under the Community Mortgage Program under the Local
Government Unit dating back to the administration of Mayor Joey Marquez.
This means that the residents of the community have been paying for their
lots for years, entitling them to the ownership of the land.
“The government turn a deaf ear to the poor people but easily accommodate
the whims of personages of big corporations. The Urban Development Housing
Act (UDHA) has many policies that are not favorable to the majority of the
Filipino people. Our people are being “squatters” in our own country. The
local government of Paranaque, like the current Aquino administration must
prioritize its citizens, its toiling masses and not those who are after
profit and personal interests only.”Rep. Tinio concluded.
--------------------------------------------
April 23, 2012
Press Statement
Reference:
Pauline Gidget Estella
National Deputy Secretary General
0915.335.2021
Jonalyn Paz
CEGP Media Officer
0916.474.44.12
Murder on the Chair
Corporations are not people.
The development offered by SM Development Corporation is contradictory to
its term, as it strikes another blow after the cutting of trees or their
so called earth-balling in Baguio City. About 25,000 residents in Silverio
compound, Parañaque has been subjected for demolition to pave way for the
new condominium project under the helm and wands of Henry Sy-- these are
clear manifestations of their insatiable greed and devilry.
Protesters fighting for their rights have been brutally dispersed while
four inhabitants have been massacred. These incidents manifest corporate
greed over people’s need and prevalence of fascism under the US-Aquino2
regime.
Ironically, the elements of Philippine National Police who swore before
the Philippine Constitution to protect the people and to defend the state
against any threat are those who committed innumerable number of human
rights violations. Just this morning, April 23, Special Weapons and
Tactics (SWAT) fired some bullets and killed Anakpawis Party-list member
Raymund Aquino, 36; Arnel Tolentino, 21; Bodging Isais, 16; and Rodman
Ortega, 16. Are these lives spared for the convenience of the demolition?
How? To show an example of what they can do with their money and guns to
innocent people?
The Police violently dispersed the protesters using water canon, tear gas
and still some hit them with batons, punched, kicked and boxed with the
protesters. PNP arrested 33 residents and charged them with resistance and
disobedience to lawful order.
The mainstream media, who are supposed to inform the public, had their
reports angled in favor of the oppressor, and stated that the root of
viciousness emerged from the locals of Silverio Compound.
This Massacre clearly states the real situation in our country. The
freedom of expression and to assemble are now crimes and when done will
lead to imprisonment, detention, harassment, and sadly in this case -
death. When we analyze the whole situation, we will figure out how the
government of this country is used by investors and corporations against
the people who voted them, pay taxes, and the same people who they should
be serving and protecting the rights and welfare. And the watchdogs serve
the interest of the rich and powerful.
Exploitation of our resources and manpower for the sake of profit,
including the people, signifies the new face of imperialism. SMDC is not
only murdering the trees, but is also killing its employees by giving
unjust wages and maintaining contractualization as their mode of
employment and now killing the entire community of Silverio by crashing
its inhabitants to pave way for a condominium that will generate
additional profit for the business.
We, from the College Editors Guild of the Philippines condemn the violent
dispersal executed by the police authority - the Silverio Massacre, the
greed of SMDC, the privatization of the basic rights made by the
US-Aquino2 Administration and the mainstream media for choosing to serve
the oppressor for the sake of profit.
From these cruelties of the 1%, CEGP- together with the 99% stands up for
the rights of the toiling and abused masses. With our pens held high and
our fists raised up, we will stand with the oppressed and together we will
fight against the brutality of the state authority and the greed of these
capitalists. We will continue to struggle against the privatization of the
US-Aquino2 Administration to all basic rights and the unjust stories
delivered by the media. We will never back down and we will never be
defeated.
End the fascist regiment. People’s need over corporate greed.
--
Pauline Gidget Estella
Deputy Secretary General
College Editors Guild of the Philippines National Office
0915.335.20.21
Jonalyn Paz
Media Liaison Officer
College Editors Guild of the Philippines National Office
0916.474.44.12
Residents of Silverio Compound defend homes against PNP and SWAT and
demolition teams of Mayor Bernabe
April 23, 2012
1 killed, 39 injured, 33 arrested
Photos by Kadamay NCR
Stills from Tudla Production video
x
It’s not just trees Urban poor groups slams
uprooting of residents for Sy’s new condo by Kadamay Ncr on Tuesday, April
17, 2012
“Hindi lang puno ang kayang ipagiba ng SMDC at ni Henry Sy, kundi pati mga
kabahayan at kabuhayan!” shouts urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang
Mahihirap-National Capital Region (Kadamay-NCR) and kadamay silverio as
they condemn the threat of demolition from the local government of
Paranaque City for the construction of Henry Sy’s new condominium under
the SM Development Corporation.
Following the cutting of pine trees for the pariking lot of SM baguio,
residents were issued a notice to vacate the 9.7 hectares land by the
Paranaque police yesterday subsequent to the recent demolition last March
7. They staged a noise barrage along sucat road and around SM Hypermarket
that is located across the said community.
“After cutting the pine trees of baguio, Henry Sy is now going to
uprooting 25, 000 families and our livelihood for the sake of his own
profit. He should definitely cut the greed together with this cohorts.”
Said Kadamay Siverio Chairperson Shella Bernal.
The residents and supporters trooped towards the city government of
Paranaque to warn Mayor Jun Bernabe and president Noynoy Aquino not to
connive with Sy and SMDC. According to the notice, residents are given 10
days to vacate silverio compound. No relocation site was offered to them.
She added, “SMDC aims to wash-out thousands of families in silverio by
June which means all throughout the summer pocket demolitions will take
place. Pocket demolitions have been used by many greedy businessmen and
LGUs to hamper the unity of the people to fight as one against them just
like in Sitio San Roque, North Triangle.”
Sitio San Roque, North Triangle, Quezon City also faces threat of
demolition today to give way for the construction of the Quezon City
Central Business District where the primary stakeholder are the Ayalas
which is also a mall magnate like Sy.
“We are ready to defend our homes even though we are up against the
richest man in the country. Baguio can live without SM. We can live
without Henry Sy,” she added.###
LFS troops to NHA; condemns violent dispersal
at Silverio Compound
Members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) mobilized at the National
Housing Authority today to express their utmost condemnation of the
ruthless dispersal of the residents of Silverio Compound in Parañaque by
elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Covering 9.7 hectares
and home to around 28 thousand families, Silverio Compound is threatened
by demolition to give way to condominiums to be constructed by the SM
Development Corporation.
“Just a few weeks ago, 182 trees in Baguio were endangered by the SM
Group. Henry Sy’s greed, however, encroaches not only our environment but
also the very lives of Filipinos themselves,” says LFS Spokesperson Gemma
Canalis, citing earlier public criticism of the SM group from progressive
organizations for cutting trees at Luneta Hill in Baguio to make way for
the expansion of a local SM mall.
The group also expressed their disgust for the PNP for its violent
treatment towards the protesters, with one minor killed and several others
injured.
“The PNP has stooped too low in reducing themselves to mere private guard
dogs of corporations instead of protecting the people they have sworn to
protect, even firing indiscriminately at the residents’ barricade as
caught by the media. We demand a swift prosecution of all personnel
involved in the demolitions,” says Canalis.
“This display of cruelty to the people is a testament of how anti-people
the government is towards its people, favoring instead big corporations
such as the SM Group. We call on the people to exact justice from the US-Aquino
regime, Henry Sy and the SM Group, the LGU of Parañaque, the PNP, and all
those responsible for the massacre in Silverio Compund. Expect a wave of
protest from our ranks in the following days to condemn what happened and
demand an immediate stop to the demolition of our communities,” says
Canalis. ###
x
For reference: Arman Hernando, CTUHR
Documentation Coordinator, +63922.821.6283
Demolitions under PNoy grossly violates right
to life, adequate housing of the poor – CTUHR
The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights criticized the Aquino
government for “grossly violating the poor’s right to life and right to
adequate housing” as a result of violent demolition of homes of urban poor
communities to favor “so-called development projects.”
In reaction to the death of Arnel Tolentino in a demolition last April 23
in Bgy. Silverio, Paranaque City, Arman Hernando, CTUHR documentation
coordinator said, “demolition of urban poor communities purportedly to
implement so-called development projects by the Aquino administration and
local government units have resulted to gross violations of the poor’s
right to life and adequate housing.”
“In our documentation and monitoring, Tolentino is already the fifth urban
poor resident killed as a result of violent demolition or ongoing dispute
over urban poor communities since Aquino took office in 2010. At the same
time, more than 12, 000 of families have been affected and displaced to
give way to ‘development’ projects which more often than not favor private
interests.”
In 2011, four urban poor residents were killed in three separate incidents
related to the demolition of urban poor communities. On July 23, Soliman
Gomez and Rommel Fortade were killed in a violent demolition of homes in
Pangarap Village in Caloocan City. Antonio Homo, a resident of Kadiwa
Navotas City and Simeon Bayogbog of San Isidro Rodriguez, Rizal were also
killed in March and October last year at the height of dispute over the
planned demolitions of their respective communities.
The demolition in Bgy. Silverio resulting in the death of Tolentino,
injury and arrest of many other residents was executed by the local
government of Paranaque together with the Philippine National Police
(PNP). According to reports, at around 8-9am on April 23, tension between
the police and the residents who are barricading their homes to stop the
demolition increased when the police reportedly started throwing teargas
towards the human barricade of the residents. The residents retaliated by
throwing stones at the policemen. A few moments later, gunshots were heard
and Tolentino was later found drenched in blood and unconscious while some
other residents found themselves also injured by gunshots. Thirty-three
(33) residents were also arrested and later charged with various criminal
charges.
“We mourn with the family of Arnel and we are one with them in their fight
for justice. No development or government project can ever justify loss of
lives and violation of rights. We call on President Aquino to conduct a
speedy, thorough and impartial investigation of the incident. Police
investigating their own ranks might result to whitewash and coverup.
Police and government officials accountable for the violent turnout of the
demolition should be penalized and brought to justice,” Hernando added.
“We also reiterate our call on the Aquino government to uphold the poor’s
right to adequate housing and stop all demolitions of communities until a
comprehensive housing policy that will truly bring development to the
lives of the urban poor is put in place,” Hernando added.###
Workers, poor communities are paying the
price of ‘development’ under Aquino – NGO
A labor NGO criticized the Aquino administration’s urban development
paradigm which allows wide scale “development” of land assets in various
parts of Metro Manila for property firms like SM Development Corporation (SMDC)
while leaving the poor homeless, citing the Silverio Compound as example.
“It is unfortunate that our government’s urban development plan only
includes business’ interest, while majority of our urban population, who
are workers and dwelling in urban poor communities are excluded to the
drafting of these urban development plans. People living in urban poor
communities also have right to the city and be included in any government
planning for development,” said Anna Leah Escresa, Executive Director of
the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research.
EILER said it is ironic that urban poor communities, currently the target
of demolitions for real estate development, are actually homes of
construction workers who toil for the same property developers at meager
wages.
Since President Aquino assumed office in 2010, the government has been
unleashing violent demolitions in urban poor communities, particularly in
the communities of Sitio San Roque in North Triangle, Quezon City;
Pangarap Village in Caloocan City; Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City;
Laperal Compound in Makati City; BIR Road in Quezon City; and Silverio
Compound in Parañaque City.
“The number of displaced families in the series of demolitions only goes
to show the growing population whose low income and joblessness has never
been enough to afford decent homes for their families, thus leaving them
no choice but to resort to dwell in shanties,” said Escresa.
“The root of the informal settling in urban areas can be traced to the
government’s inability to provide decent and affordable housing for the
poor,” Escresa added.
The lack of significant wage hike for decades largely contributed to the
growing number of workers whose meager income cannot even support their
families’ basic needs which includes decent housing. Contractualization
also plays a consequential part for workers’ and their families’
impoverished state.
“Our workers could not afford decent housing if they do not even have
regular and secure jobs and secure source of livelihood. This lack of job
security only worsens their condition while big capitalists spoil on
profits from their hard labor,” said Escresa.
Apart from displacing families, taking them to far-flung relocation sites,
if there are any, only adds to their burden – taking them away from their
sources of livelihood and the children away from their school. In the
midst of rising prices and transport fares, putting these families in
relocation sites such as in Montalban and Cavite without the assurance of
a decent income will only aggravate their situation.
The recent demolition operations in Silverio Compound only mirrors the
irony of how these communities resided in by thousands of urban poor will
be displaced by business districts and high-rise condominiums only for the
wealthy few. The area occupied by Silverio Compound is said to be the site
of another Henry Sy venture.
“The recent incident in Silverio Compound only adds to the accumulated
crimes of Henry Sy to the people and the workers. Also known to be the
number one employer of contractuals, Sy is still not satisfied and wanted
to further intensify his greed,” Escresa expressed. “Establishments like
these do not generate real jobs that would last. Instead, it tends to
employ contractual workers.”
EILER condemns the brutality of the police in Silverio Compound which
caused a fatality and casualties from the residents and supports the
struggle of the urban poor for their right to proper and decent housing.
Reference person: Anna Leah Escresa, Ecumenical Institute for Labor
Education and Research (EILER) Executive Director (09088642151)
--
Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER)
www.eiler.ph
15 Anonas St., Unit D-24 Cellar Mansions
Barangay Quirino 3-A, Project 3, Quezon City,
Philippines 1102
Tel. No. (+632) 4339287 (telefax);
SEC. Reg. No. A200100111
x
Children of Silverio compound, traumatized but
determined to defend their homes
Children are not deaf and blind to ignore what was happening.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/04/27/children-of-silverio-compound-traumatized-but-determined-to-defend-their-homes/
MANILA – Angelo Garcia, 16, could not forget that day. At around 10 a.m.
of April 23, he had joined the human barricade to defend their homes in
Silverio compound, Parañaque.
“The police fired six warning shots then we stopped throwing stones.
Later, the SWAT approached us, we restarted throwing stones and then we
heard four more gun shots. I saw someone was hit in the chest. Another
shot was fired. I noticed I was wounded while I was running toward the
compound,” Garcia recalled in Filipino.
Garcia sustained two wounds in his leg due to shrapnel.
Despite what happened, the teenager was not deterred. “I will fight for
this land because this is where I grew up,” he said. “I have many good
memories and friends here.”
Garcia was one of the minors injured in Monday’s demolition. According to
Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap-National Capital Region’s (Kadamay-NCR)
secretary general Lea Valencia, the total number of injured is yet to be
determined because the documentation is still ongoing. Eight minors were
among the 33 arrested and as of April 24, Valencia said four have been
released by the police.
Traumatized children
Before the chaos began, most of the children had been brought inside the
covered court of the Silverio compound. Thara Rayon, 16, was one of those
who took the children to safety.
“We did some storytelling and games to get their minds off what’s
happening outside the compound,” Rayon said. Babies carried by their
mothers, children aged one to six years old, and pregnant women, stayed
inside the court.
But things got out of hand, she recalled. People started running toward
the compound and the children began to cry. “They felt that something is
happening outside and some of them started asking where their mother or
their father was,” Rayon said.
Children cried even harder when they saw injured people being rushed
inside the court. “When the riot began, injured residents were brought
into the covered court because the village outpost was already crammed
full. The children saw the victims and they cried.”
“We told them to face the wall and close their eyes so that they will not
see what was going on,” Jageline Dela Cruz of Akap-Bata Party-list said.
But children are not deaf and blind to ignore what was happening.
Injured residents were treated in the covered court since the health
center in Purok 4 of Silverio Compound was closed at the time. Rayon’s
cousin, a newly graduate and registered nurse, attended to the wounded
residents.
“It’s as if they (the health center staff) knew something would happen and
they would not attend to it, they did not open the health center that day.
A drug store near the court lent the injured residents gauzes, plasters
and antiseptic to cure the wounded.
“The children cried even louder when the wounded residents started coming.
They could not eat. One of the wounded was attended to beside the
children. That is when we decided to move the children to the chapel,”
Rayon recalled.
In a statement, the Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) condemned the
violent demolition that victimized a number of minors.
“We condemned the violent demolition in Silverio Compound where many of
the injured are minors. It only proves that we cannot expect anything in
this government whose supposed duty is protect its citizen especially the
children,” said Jacqueline Ruiz, executive director of CRC.
The children were traumatized as result of the violent demolition
perpetuated by men in uniform such as the police who, ironically, should
have been protecting the people, Ruiz added. “It is only right that these
young people in Silverio Compound would attend to the children’s safety.
But because the demolition had been violent, and the children witnessed
their neighbors, grandparents, uncles, aunties or anyone they knew harmed
or injured – that was enough to cause trauma.”
Instead of demolishing houses to give way to President Benigno “Noynoy”
Aquino’s Public-Private Partnership projects, Ruiz said the government
should prioritize housing projects for poor families.”
‘We will fight’
Like Garcia, Rayon said she too would defend their land where her home has
stood for 32 years. “I will also fight for our right here not only for
myself but also for the other residents.”
Garcia said he does not believe what the Parañaque City Mayor Florencio
Bernabe had told the local government, that they will demolish only the
market in front of the compound. He added that if there is another threat
of demolition, he would still join the adults in barricading their
community against the demolition team.
“These children will definitely join their parents in defending their
homes because this is where they grew up. This is where they have
established their lives,” Rayon’s mother, Elizabeth, said.
Rep. Olivarez
x
Elehiya kay Arnel Tolentino Leonor,
At sa abang komunidad ng Silverio Compound
by Glennford Besario de Tolentino
April 25, 2012
I.
Mga Kasama,
Pagtibayin natin ang hanay.
Isalansan sa hanggahan ang grabidad
Na damdamin [saloobin] ng batong-pingkain;
Muhon at pundasyon wari ito ng ating prinsipyo
At karapatan-tao sa loob ng dilapidado na estado.
Sinong hindi gigising-babangon sa balisang umaga, kung nakaamba ang atas
ng pagpapalayas?
Sinong maralita ang hindi titindig, kung banghay na ng buhay at kabuhayan
ang sinasamsam?
At sinong hindi babalikwas, kung binabangungot ng demolisyon ang ating
pagkakahimbing?
(Malaon na nating inalay sa pedestal, ng Ama sa langit ang batumbuhay.)
Marahil sukdulan na ang sakit-pasakit
Ng kaniyang mga Anak ng Bayan;
Sa usapin ng karapatan sa edukasyon,
Sa usapin ng marangal na hanap-buhay,
Sa usapin ng kalusugan at kapayapaan,
Sa usapin ng malayang pamamahayag,
At sa usapin ng karapatan sa Lupa—
Hindi tinapay ang pananggalang sa banta:
Ng mekanikal na basbas ng water cannon,
Ng maanghang na tirgas at dahas,
Ng inip-na-inip-na-bala at batuta,
Mula sa kanilang pasistang pananampalataya.
Na-aayon sa utos ng Hudas na Alkalde-Politiko
At ng Kapitalistang ganid sa yaman at laman ng lupa.
Hindi ito laro ng agawang base, ng magkabilang panig.
Subalit,
Ginagawa ninyong katuwaan
Ang pagpalo,
Ang pagsipa,
Ang pagsuntok,
Ang pagpapaputok ng baril.
(Humalakhak nang sunod-sunod na putok ang M16-riple ng SWAT,
Hudyat ito marahil ng mas marahas na kaligayahan sa hanay ng kapulisan.)
Sumambulat sa kahabaan ng Sucat Road;
Ang sigwa’t panaghoy
Ng mga naulilang
tsinelas,
basahan,
bandila,
pamatpat,
bubog,
dyaryo,
bato,
bote,
At ng duguang sando’t warat-na-warat-na-karapatang-tao.
(Naghugas kamay ang makasalanan, Hinawi ng lente-kamera ang lansangan.)
Nakahandusay si Arnel,
Sa butas na dibdib ng nagliyayab na buwan ng Abril.
(Mariing gumuhit ang hapis at pagtangis,
Ng kaniyang Ina sa bitak-bitak na pader ng Silverio.)
Ginagawa ninyong laro ang pagpaslang.
Ginagawa ninyong katuwaan ang pag-aresto.
Ginagawa ninyong propesyon ang magpalayas.
Ginagawa ninyong libingan ang aming pamayanan.
Ngayon,
Marapat lang na sundan ang panawagan—
Ng naglalagablab na santelmo sa Sangandaan.
II.
Nangingilid ang matang-apoy, ng kandilang dilaw
Na nakatundos sa tipak ng duguang bato.
Dayaw ang siyap ng balisang inahen at mga sisiw,
Na paruot-parito sa ilalim ng iyong kabaong.
(Tagulaylay ang pagtangis ng mga kaibigang naglalamay.)
Labas-pasok ang nanghihimasok na kalansing
Ng baryang-sumisilip sa iyong bangkay at sa latang amoy kalanda.
Habang paulit-ulit at inuulit-ulit na isinisigaw ng alimpuyo’t ipuipo sa
Metropolis,
Sa bumbunan ng Lungsod Parañaque, at sa buong-kapuluan ang paghingi
Ng katarungan— pagkundina sa karumaldumal na demolisyon-masaker.
Araw-gabi, napakainit ng pakikiramay na haplos ng dayaray,
Sa balat-kamay at laglag na balikat ng iyong ina’t kapamilya.
O, kay bigat ng bagahe na iyong tangan-tangan sa dagling paglisan.
Ni wala kang pasabi o pahimakas na iniwan, sa tinibag na upuan
At pader ng talipapa na iyong paboritong tambayan at pahingaan.
Walang makausad na kaso't ebedinsiya, mula sa lente ng midya at meron.
Marahil, kalkulado ng tensyon ang direksiyon ng iyong malungkot na
talambuhay.
(Silyadong sobre ang kaso, nanlalamig sa tag-araw.)
Nahan na ang hustisya?
26 Abril, 2012
(Blue Mosque) Maharlika Village, Lungsod Taguig, Filipinas
26 Abril, 2012
(Blue Mosque) Maharlika Village, Lungsod Taguig, Filipinas
Elehiya kay Arnel Tolentino, At sa abang komunidad ng Silverio Compound
by Glennford Besario de Tolentino on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 6:52pm
II.
Nangingilid ang matang-apoy, ng kandilang dilaw
Na nakatundos sa tipak ng duguang bato.
Dayaw ang siyap ng balisang inahen at mga sisiw,
Na paruot-parito sa ilalim ng iyong kabaong.
(Tagulaylay ang pagtangis ng mga kaibigang naglalamay.)
Labas-pasok ang nanghihimasok na kalansing
Ng baryang-sumisilip sa iyong bangkay at sa latang amoy kalanda.
Habang paulit-ulit at inuulit-ulit na isinisigaw ng alimpuyo’t ipuipo sa
Metropolis,
Sa bumbunan ng Lungsod Parañaque, at sa buong-kapuluan ang paghingi
Ng katarungan— pagkundina sa karumaldumal na demolisyon-masaker.
Araw-gabi, napakainit ng pakikiramay na haplos ng dayaray,
sa balat-kamay at laglag-balikat ng iyong ina’t kapamilya.
O, kay bigat ng bagahe na iyong tangan-tangan sa dagling paglisan.
Ni wala kang pasabi o pahimakas na iniwan, sa Binakbak na upuan
At pader ng talipapa na iyong paboritong tambayan at pahingaan.
Walang makausad na kaso't ebedinsiya, mula sa lente ng midya at meron.
Marahil, kalkulado ng tensyon ang direksiyon ng iyong malungkot na
talambuhay.
(Silyadong sobre ang kaso, nanlalamig sa tag-araw.)
Nahan na ang hustisya?
Mendiola Indignation Rally vs
Silverio bloody & brutal demolition
April 26, 2012
Supporters of the victims of the demolition in Silverio Compound stormed
the Mendiola Peace Arch for indignation rally to protest about Aquino's "Noynoying"
in the unjust and brutal treatment of the local Police and Government to
the residents of the the Silverio compound. Protesters were fire-hosed by
the local Police in order to stop them from entering the said vicinity.
Photos and text by Tudla Productions
x
TULA: Lilipad ang mga bato
by Mac Ramirez
April 23, 2012
Bakit ka magugulat
kung may handang makipagpatayan
para ipaglaban
ang gigibain niyang tahanan?
Bakit mo ipagtataka
kung makita mo mang
nagliliparan ang mga bato
patungo sa direksyon
ng mga berdugo
na ang pakay ay
manira ng pinagsikapang
ipundar na kinabukasan?
Bakit mo kamumuhian
ang mga namukol
ng bato, nanirador,
nag-alimura;
samantalang,
sa kabilang panig ay
umaalingawngaw ang
putok ng mga baril,
nanggagaling ang alingasaw
ng nakasusulasok na teargas,
at nagmumula ang lagaslas ng
malakas na bomba ng
tubig imburnal?
Bakit mo tatawaging 'tarantado'
at 'hampas lupa'
ang mga sinasabi mong 'iskwater'
habang tahimik ka naman
sa malaking negosyanteng si Henry Sy
na walang gatol kung magpalayas
sa libo-libong pamilya
para lamang magtayo
ng magarang condominium
sa lupang kinatitirikan
ng kanilang mga bahay?
Bakit mo tatawaging mga 'bobo, 'tanga'
at 'nagpapasulsol sa mga taga-labas'
ang mga sinasabi mong 'iskwater'
na para bang kabobohan o katangahan
kung di man ay nabubuyo lamang ng sulsol,
ang mga tao na magtatanggol sa tahanan
ng kaniyang pamilya?
Bakit hindi ka man lamang
kinilabutan nang may mabuwal
mula sa hanay ng
mga residenteng lumalaban?
Kesyo ba may 'demolition order'
naman mula sa korte
ang mga pulis na namaril
at sampid lamang sa lupa
ang namatay?
Bakit hindi ka mangilabot
sa gubyernong handang
manggiba ng tahanan ng mga Pilipino,
habang ibinabahay naman
ang mga armadong tropang 'Kano
sa ating bayan;
labag man ito sa ating Konstitusyon,
sampal man ito sa ating
pambansang integridad at soberanya;
banta man ito sa puri ng ating mga kababaihan?
Bakit hindi ka mangilabot
kay Henry Sy
na walang pakundangan kung
huthutan ng tubo
ang libo-libo niyang mga
kontraktwal na manggagawa
sa kaniyang emperyo
ng malls at supermarkets;
si Henry Sy na walang takot
kung mamutol ng halos
dalawang daang mga puno
para lamang magtayo ng
paradahan ng sasakyan
sa isa niya pang mall?
Bakit ka magtataka
kung may aping nagbabangon
para ipagtanggol ang kanilang karapatan,
buhay man ay i-alay?
Huwag kang magtaka...
Hindi ka dapat magtaka,
dahil hangga't may uring nagsasamantala,
hindi matatapos ang
paglipad ng bato
sa mga Silverio Compound
sa ating mundo.
Tiyak ang pagbabangon ng mga api,
para durugin ang mga gaya ni Henry Sy!
x
Silverio Compound
ni Richard R. Gappi
“Hindi squatter o illegal occupants ang mga taga-Silverio Compound sa
Paranaque dahil sa Resolution Ordinance #03-07 (806) ng Sangguniang
Panglungsod, nagdeposito o may deposito nang P10.41-M para tuluyan nang
mabili o mapasakanila ang kinatitirikan ng bahay nila.” – pahayag ng mga
residente
Kami ang wala.
Nang matutuhan naming tumayo sa sariling paa
upang ipagtanggol ang kung ano
ang mga munting meron sa amin sa silong ng langit,
ang huling hibla bago ang wala,
pinaratangan kami ng marami, nang marami.
Kanino panig ang midya?
Kanino panig ang batas?
Kanino panig ang nagpapatupad ng batas?
Kanino panig ang mga gumagawa ng batas?
Kanino panig ang nagpapasya kung ano ang mali o tama sa batas?
Kanino panig ang pag-unlad?
Kami ang wala.
At nang ipagtanggol namin
ang huling hibla ng hininga na meron sa amin,
hinablot, nawala ang aming mga pangalan.
Mabuhay ang midya.
Mabuhay ang batas.
Mabuhay ang nagpapatupad ng batas.
Mabuhay ang mga gumagawa ng batas.
Mabuhay ang nagpapasya kung ano ang mali o tama sa batas.
Kami ang wala.
Na ang tanging natatanaw ng puso ngayon,
nakikipagtitigan,
ay ang lisik ng mata ng bagyo at ipoipo. #
-Richard R. Gappi
12:41pm, Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Angono 3/7 Poetry Society
Angono, Rizal, Pilipinas
Tuesday at 7:44pm · Like · 4
x
OFFICIAL PRESS STATEMENT NG MAMAMAYAN NG SILVERIO
COMPOUND AT KADAMAY PARANAQUE
Reference: Shella Bernal, Spokesperson ng Mamamayan ng Silverio at Kadamay–Silverio
(0922.8563655)
Kaming mga mamamayan ng Silverio Compound Paranaque sa ilalim ng Kalipunan
ng Damayang Mahihirap- Paranaque ay mariing kinukundena ang masaker sa
apat naming kapwa residente at ang marahas, brutal at hindi makataong
pagbuwag sa amin na tumututol sa malawakang demolisyon sa aming komunidad.
Mahigpit naming kinukundena namin ang pagmasaker sa apat na mga magigiting
na kapwa residente ng Silverio Compound. Sila ay aming mga bayani na
nagbuwis ng buhay upang ipaglaban ang aming kabuhayan, paninirahan at
karapatang pantao. Sa inisyal na tala, sila ay sina Raymond Aquino, 36
taong gulang, Arnel Leonor, 21 taong gulang at Arvin Tolentino na 21 taong
gulang. May mahigit 33 ang iligal na inaresto (8 dito ay mga menor de edad,
2 babae at isang senior citizen), mahigit 39 ang malubhang nasaktan.
Magpahangang sa kasalukuyan ay patuloy ang iligal na pang-aaresto at
pagpasok sa aming mga kabahayan ng mga kapulisan at paggiba sa aming
talipapa.
Naghihimagsik ang aming kalooban sa karahasan na ginawa sa amin ng
gubyerno at ng kapulisan. Kitang-kita natin sa video report ng mga taga
media na kahit naposasan na at nakadapa na ang kapwa namin residenteng
inaresto ay patuloy pa rin ang pananapak, pambubugbog at pananakit ng mga
kapulisan. Kitang kita natin ang walang habas na pamamaril ng mga miyembro
ng SWAT sa aming mga residente na walang kalaban laban. Ang nangyaring
pambabato ng mga residente ay reaksyon lamang ng ginawang pandarahas sa
aming hanay at pagdepensa sa aming kabuhayan at paninirahan pero bakit
bala, karahasan at pagpatay ang kanilang ginawa sa amin? Hindi ba’t ang
mga kapulisan ay tagapagpatupad ng batas at hindi ang pumatay ng tao?
Tinututulan namin ang malawakang demolisyon. Ang pagdemolis sa talipapa ay
bahagi ng tuloy tuloy na planong idemolis ang kabuuang 9.7 ektaryang lupa
sa Silverio Compound upang pagtayuan ng business center ni Henry Sy at
upang mawalan ng kakumpitensya ang HYPERMARKET ng pamilyang Sy na katapat
lamang ng Silverio Compound. Mahigpit naming tinututulan ang pagwasak sa
aming talipapa na dalawamput limang (25) taon nang pinagsikapan naming
itayo sapagkat ito ang pinagkukunan namin ng pagkain at kabuhayan. Ang
pagwasak sa aming talipapa ay nangangahulugan din ng pagwasak sa kabuhayan
ng mahigit 1000 maliliit na manininda at libu-libong mamamayan na umaasa
sa talipapa sa loob ng Silverio Compound. Ang pagwasak rin nito ay bahagi
ng pagwasak sa aming buong komunidad. Nauna nang wasakin ng lokal na
pamahalaan ng Paranaque ang mga establishemento sa harapan at ngayon ay
tatanggalin naman nila ang aming talipapa.
Ang aming paglaban ay makatwiran sapagkat ang lupa ng Silverio ay inilaan
para sa mga taga Silverio Compound at hindi para kay Henry Sy at mga
negosyante. Ito ay sa bisa ng Resolution Ordinance #03-07 (806) of the
City of Paranaque; entitled: “An Ordinance authorizing Mayor Joey Marquez
to process the expropriation” ng Silverio Compound para isalang sa CMP at
nang mapakinabangan ng mga taong nakatira dito. Mayroon na itong initial
deposit na 15% na nagkakahalaga ng P10.41 milyon. Ang kailangan namin ay
katiyakan sa aming kabuhayan at paninirahan at hindi condominium na
malinaw na negosyong pabahay. Hindi lamang bahay ang idedemolis kundi ang
buo naming kabuhayan, paninirahan, edukasyon, simbahan at buong pamumuhay
ng komunidad.
Kasinungalingan ang sinasabi ni Florencio Bernabe na kami ay
“nagpapa-sulsol” lamang sa mga politiko at ilang mga tagalabas. Sapagkat
lehitimo at makatwiran ang aming pinaglalaban. Nagpapasalamat din kami sa
lahat ng tagasuporta na syang inspirasyon din namin sa aming paglaban
sapagkat ang laban na ito ay laban ng buong mamamayan ng Pilipinas laban
sa mga mangangamkam ng lupa tulad nila Henry Sy.
Nananawagan kami na panagutin sina Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Philippine
National Police Southern Police District, SWAT, DILG, at ang gubyernong
Aquino sa malawakang paglabag sa karapatan pantao, iligal na pang-aaresto,
brutalidad, walang habas na paggamit ng baril, teargas, water canon at
pagpatay sa 4 residente.
Nananawagan din kami na kagyat na itigil ang malawakang demolisyon at
pangangamkam ng lupa sa Silverio Compound at sa marami pang komunidad sa
buong bansa tulad sa North Triangle, Quezon City, Tondo Manila,
Welfareville, Mandaluyong, Pangarap Village, Caloocan, Navotas, San Juan,
Lawa ng Laguna, Freedom Islands, Paranaque. Ito ay upang bigyang daan ang
mga Public Private Partnership Program ng gubyernong Aquino at ng mga
dayuhan at mga most favoured capitalists na sina Henry Sy, Lucio Tan,
Danding Cojuanco, Razon, Ayala at Zobel.
Ang naganap na masaker, brutalidad at marahas na demolisyon ngayon ay
isasampa namin na kaso laban sa gubyerno ng Pilipinas sa United Nations sa
pamamagitan ng Universal Periodic Review Watch Philippines.
Kami ay umaapela sa kapwa mamamayan namin sa Paranaque, kapwa maralita,
manggagawa, kabataan, kababaihan at sa mga taong simbahan na tulungan
kaming ilantad ang ginawang karahasan sa aming maralita at mamamayan ng
Silverio Compound. Magsama-sama tayo upang ipagtanggol ang ating mga
karapatan.
Nananawagan kami sa lahat ng grupo, samahan ng relihiyoso, organisasyon
kasama na ang National Democratic Front of the Philippines at Government
of the Republic of the Philippines na ipagpatuloy ang usapang pangkapayaan
upang pag-usapan ang mga batayang isyu ng mamamayan katulad naming
maralita na tinatanggalan ng kabuhayan, paninirahan at iba pang karapatang
pantao.
Karagdagang Impormasyon
2004, ang lupa ng silverio compound ay inexpropriate sa bisa ng City
Ordinance upang ilaan sa paninirahan ng mga residente ng Silverio
Compound.
Marso 7, 2012 ng unang lumapag ang mga pwersa ng kapulisan, demolition
teams at representative mula sa Local Government Unit sa Silverio Compound
at marahas na dinemolish ang mga commercial establishments sa harap mismo
ng compound. Ang nasabing demolisyon ay daan para sa plano ni Henry Sy na
pagpapatayo ng kanyang negosyong condominium sa lugar. Mariing tinutulan
naming mga mahigit 28, 000 pamilyang residente sa Sliverio Compound ang
naganap na demolisyon. Simula noon ay naghanda na kami para sa mga susunod
pang plano ng LGU, kasabwat ang malaking negosyanteng si Henry Sy.
Abril 13 ng makatanggap kami ng notice na nagsasabing idedemolish ang
lugar pagkalipas ng 10 araw. Mahigpit naming pinaghandaan ang paglaban at
pagtatanggol sa aming mga kabuhayan at tahanan hanggang sa pagsapit ng
ika-sampung araw ng notice. Gabi ng Abril 22, nagsagawa na kami ng vigil
bilang paghahanda sa paparating na demolisyon. Kami ay nagkakaisa na hindi
kami papayag na maisagawa ng LGU at ni Henry Sy ang kanilang planong
demolisyon.
Abril 23, maaga naming pinaghandaan ang pagbabantay sa aming barikada.
Daan-daan kaming mga residente na lumabas sa aming tirahan upang
magtanggol sa aming hanay. Mariin naming tinututulan ang mga binitawang
salita ni Mayor Bernabe na ang plano lamang idemolish ay ang talipapa sa
bungad ng Silverio Compound
- 7:00 ng umaga, dumating ang may mahigit 300 kapulisan mula sa Philippine
National Police Southern Police District
- 9:45 ng umaga, nagsimula nang magpakawala ng may 20 mahigit na teargas.
- 11:30 ng umaga, sinimulan ang marahas na paggiba ng tindahan sa talipapa.
x
Press Statement
23 April 2012
We condemn the Aquino government’s use of violence
against the residents of Silverio Compound
We condemn the Aquino government, the local government of Parañaque City,
big capitalist Henry Sy, and the Philippine National Police for using
violence in trying to demolish the homes of urban poor residents of
Silverio Compound, Parañaque today. The excessive violence inflicted on
the urban poor of Silverio Compound resulted in the death of two residents
and leaving many other residents seriously injured.
We condemn the Aquino government for carrying out a war against the urban
poor, of which the violent demolition in Silverio Compound is just another
flashpoint. Instead of providing affordable and livable housing to the
poor, the Aquino regime is hell bent on unleashing violence against them
as it tries to demolish their shanties and drive them away from the city.
From Old Manila to San Roque, to Laperal and many other similar cases, the
Aquino government is steadily fuelling the wrath of the urban poor against
it.
We condemn big capitalist Henry Sy, whose greed
for ever-bigger profits knows no bounds. The demolition attempt and the
use of violence against the urban poor of Silverio Compound is just
another addition to his long list of crimes against the Filipino workers
and people. For years, he has severely exploited his contractual labor
force and busted the workers’ union in his SM malls. He has been in the
news of late for trying to remove trees around the Baguio City branch of
his SM mall. He has contributed to the congestion of traffic in Metro
Manila with his reckless construction of malls.
We demand justice for the slain residents of Silverio Compound. We call
for the immediate termination of the demolition in Silverio Compound in
Parañaque City. We call for an immediate moratorium on all demolitions
across the country. At the same time, we call on the urban poor to rise up
and fight the Aquino government’s attempts to demolish their homes and
deprive them of their livelihood. We call for an immediate investigation
into the use of excessive violence against the residents of Silverio
Compound and the death of one resident.
We call on the Filipino workers and urban poor to condemn the violence
unleashed against the residents of Silverio Compound. Let us join protests
to take the Aquino government to task for further worsening hunger and
poverty in the country.
Community Mass and Tribute to Arnel T. Leonor
at Silverio Compound
April 27, 2012
Photos by Tudla Productions
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Aquino, Henry Sy's hands drip with blood over
Parañaque demolition--CPP
Communist Party of the Philippines
April 23, 2012
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemned in the strongest
possible terms the Aquino government and its armed police, as well as the
Parañaque local government and Henry Sy of the SM group for the violent
demolition operations this morning at the Silverio Compound along Sucat,
Parañaque, which resulted in the killing of at least three residents and
the arrest and injury of scores of others.
News footages show at least five elements of the PNP-SWAT armed with M16
rifles firing directly at the residents’ barricade. Scores of bloodied
protesters were being picked up, truncheoned and manhandled by arresting
police officers even as they were already handcuffed. Policemen were shown
trying to shield their fellow officers from being caught on camera as they
beat up arrested protesters.
The demolition of the nine-hectare community
paves the way for the construction of new condominiums owned by Henry Sy,
a big bourgeois comprador who owns the SM chain of commercial malls and
other upscale real estate properties. The sprawling Silverio compound is
home to at least 28,000 residents.
“Benigno Aquino III and Henry Sy’s hands are dripping with the blood of
the Silverio martyrs,” said the CPP. “Without reservation, the Aquino
regime exhibited unbridled cruelty and repression against the impoverished
residents of the community as it employed extreme violence to force the
demolition of their homes. Aquino is showing who his real bosses are—not
the people, but Henry Sy and the rest of the pro-Aquino big bourgeois
compradors and landlords.”
According to residents of the area, their
homes are covered by a low-cost housing scheme under the Community
Mortgage Program. An initial payment of P10 million was already made
several years ago for them by the local government to be granted a writ of
possession by the courts.
“The residents of Silverio compound stand on
just ground as they put up barricades and oppose the demolitions,” said
the CPP. “Not only do they have the legal right to defend their community
from being demolished. They are fighting for their fundamental right to
decent housing and livelihood. The CPP and the Filipino people salute the
defiance of the Silverio residents to resist the demolition.”
“This violent demolition is but the latest of
a series of demolition operations being carried out by the Aquino regime
to pave the way for projects under its Public-Private Partnership
program,” said the CPP. “At least 500,000 residents in Metro Manila alone
are set to be evicted from their homes and communities and relocated to
places that are often devoid of basic services and facilities and far away
from their sources of livelihood.”
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PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
April 27, 2012
‘Silverio Massacre’ the end result of Aquino
government’s continuation of decades-old anti-people policies – Anakbayan
The youth group Anakbayan has put the responsibility for Monday’s bloody
demolition in Paranaque, which left at least one dead and 30 other
residents wounded, in the hands of President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III
for his administration’s refusal to solve the societal roots of the
so-called ‘informal settler’ phenomenon.
“‘Informal settlers’ are the offspring of rural and urban poverty.
Landlessness and landlord exploitation forces millions of farmers and
peasants to seek greener pastures in the cities. But with high prices and
the lack of decent jobs awaiting them in urban areas, they have no choice
but to become ‘informal settlers’” said Vencer Crisostomo, national
chairperson of Anakbayan
He said “These problems have plagued millions of Filipinos for decades,
and the former continues to persist until this very day”.
The day after the Paranaque demolition, the Supreme Court ruled for the
total distribution of Hacienda Luisita to its 6,000+ farm workers, more
than two decades after snail-paced government efforts to supposedly put it
under agrarian reform. Critics have repeatedly assailed the
Cojuangco-Aquino-owned estate as symbol of the current and previous
administrations’ failures to implement genuine land reform.
“Millions have no land in the countryside, and they remain landless in the
cities” said Crisostomo.
The youth leader blamed the lack of decent jobs and low wages as a major
factor in the seemingly unending phenomenon of ‘urban poverty’.
Earlier this year, an SWS survey that the number of unemployed Filipinos
has risen to 9.7 million, or double the amount recorded in 2011. Official
labor statistics show that out of every 100 youths in the labor force, 16
are unemployed, more than double the national average.
In addition, even those with jobs suffer from low wages and lack of job
security. Government data shows that a whole 20% of all companies in the
Philippines violate the Minimum Wage Law, while 56% of all Filipino
workers are contractual. Also, the minimum wage (pegged at P426 in Metro
Manila) is less than 50% of the daily minimum of cost of living for an
average family (P1,008).
“Most of the residents of these communities are workers. If they could
afford decent housing, they would. But the thing is, they can’t. Not with
those inhumane wages they are paid with” added Crisostomo. ###
--
#89 K7 Street corner Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City
Website: anakbayan.org
Facebook.com/anakbayan
Twitter: @anakbayan_ph
Anakbayan is the comprehensive mass organization of the Filipino youth,
advocating genuine national independence and democracy as a solution to
the nation's problems. It is open to anyone from 13 to 35 years old, and
currently has a 20,000-strong membership across the Philippines and in
several cities in the U.S and Canada.
It is not a partylist group and is in no way affiliated with the pro-Aquino
group Akbayan.
Hustisya para sa Silverio!
SM City Baguio
April 25,
2012
We condemn the violent demolition in Silverio Compound, Paranaque that
lead to four casualties. The demolition destroyed not only the stalls but
the livelihood of the community. And all of these were of Henry Sy and SM
hypermarket? We grieve for the families of those who passed away, our
hearts go out for you. May justice be served!
Photos and text by Ivy Buenaobra
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VIDEO
CLIPS
Parents and friends speak of Arnel "Nonoy" Tolentino Leonor,
dubbed martyr
of the urban poor and their causes.
Anakpawis representative
Rafael Mariano and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato
Reyes visit and talked to the residents of Silverio Compound, victims of a
violent demolition that killed at least one and injured many others. Both
also visited minors who were arrested and harmed by the police.
The
Silverio Compound demolition in Parañaque City was the most brutal in
recent memory, leaving at least one dead and some 36 hurt, mostly by
gunshot wounds. Some 33 residents and protesters were also arrested,
including seven minors and two women. Twenty-nine of them were eventually
charged with resistance and disobedience to a person in authority and
disturbance of public order. While some of the wounded were brought to
various hospitals, many others refused to seek proper medical attention
out of fear of being arrested or simply due to lack of money.
