Pamalakaya denounced the violent demolition in Brgy. Patungan
Manila, Philippines – The militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya-Pilipinas) condemned the violent demolition in Brgy. Patungan, Maragondon, Cavite yesterday. About ten houses were violently demolished yesterday by hundreds of demolition team escorted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Air Force (PAF).
Brgy. Patungan is a home to 353 fisherfolk and peasant families which have a looming threat of eviction under the Writ of Demolition ordered by the Naic Regional Trial Court (RTC)
The 602-hectare fishing and farming community being claimed by the Maria Theresa Virata Realty Corporation (MTV Realty Corporation) was already sold to Henry SY, a business-tycoon who is about to convert Patungan’s productive fishing and agricultural grounds into a money-making eco-tourism hub. This will result to the demolition and displacement of 353 fisherfolk and peasant families depending mainly on its rich fishing and agricultural resources on a day to day basis.
According to Susan Agner, a Patungan resident and Spokesperson of Save Patungan Now Movement, fully-armed PNP and PAF trooped their community yesterday to escort the demolition team. But the strong resistance of the residents who barricaded the community for months has failed the demolition team to completely demolish their houses.
“The presence of the PNP and PAF during the demolition yesterday wasn’t just to escort the demolition team; they were even part of the demolition team irreverently removing our houses. This brought fear and trauma to the residents especially to the children,” Agner said in a statement.
Today, Pamalakaya received report from Save Patungan Now Movement that the PNP and demolition team have returned to Brgy. Patungan this morning and had a standoff with the residents.
“Henry Sy and his funded-PNP will not stop until a single house is immobile on this land,” Agner said.
Meanwhile, Pamalakaya appeals to President Duterte to stop all the demolition of fishing communities for eco-tourism purposes.
“With or without relocation, the government should refrain from evicting fisherfolk from coastal communities especially if it would only replaced by big businesses’ money-making hub. ‘No relocation, no demolition’ scheme is too complicated so it should be a ‘no more demolition’ at all,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya Chairperson said.
“We call on President Duterte to investigate PNP’s involvement in the demolition and its possible cahoots with the Sy family. Their duty is to serve and protect but it seems like they are acting as a regular goons of Henry Sy,” Hicap ended. ###
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