Photos by Luis Liwanag
A community of urban poor dwellers resisted demolition by the San Juan City police Wednesday morning, resulting in a skirmish between the demolition team and residents.
At least 10 people were reported injured.
The affected community was composed of 2,000 residents on P. Narciso St., in Barangay Corazon de Jesus, their shanties torn down to make way for a new city hall.
The demolition order came from San Juan City mayor Guia Gomez, wife of former president Joseph Estrada.
City officials said the area would also be used for a new Pinaglabanan shrine, to commemorate the place where the Filipino revolutionaries fired the opening salvo in their fight to end Spanish rule.
On Wednesday morning, the area was again the scene of violence. San Juan City policemen fired water canons at residents who put up a barricade to stop the demolition. Policemen and snipers also stationed themselves on a hill of construction material overlooking the contested area.
In the end, policemen succeeded in tearing down the shanties. Authorities said they have prepared relocation sites to house the displaced families.