Thursday, October 04, 2007 Fourth ID says most illegal settlers not poor By Stephen Capillas
FOURTH Infantry Division chief Major General Jose Barbieto said measures were undertaken to ensure that soldiers affected by the ongoing demolition of 120 houses located at Zone 8, Barangay Patag this city near the military’s Camp Evangelista headquarters site, would be taken cared of.
He also disclosed that contrary to belief, majority of the illegal settlers can afford to relocate and in fact, even rent their houses in Zone 8 to soldiers and civilians for an unspecified amount.
"In fact, the portion where these houses stand are known as the 'Blue Barracks.' These settlers own houses made of concrete and have cars and passenger jeepneys that's why we have a hard time dismantling most of the structures," Barbieto said.
Earlier, a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) filed by the Zone 8 Patag Extension Settlers Association Inc. against the demolition was rejected by the Regional Trial Court Branch 10.
In its ruling the court said the group failed to establish the existence of a "clear and positive right, which should be judicially protected."
Still, the group decried what it described as an excessive show of force when the Fourth ID used troops and army personnel carriers (APC) to secure the demolition area.
In response, Fourth ID spokesman Major Samuel Sagun said the move was intended to "show authority" and prevent the disruption of the demolition by external forces out to exploit the tension in the situation.
Barbieto said Wednesday majority of the affected settlers have homes in other subdivisions and can thus relocate there without difficulty.
"They informed us (through dialogues) that they be given time to relocate but we passed flyers informing them of the planned demolition last year," Barbieto said.
For his part, Sagun said the planned three-day demolition by the soldiers may be extended because most of the homes are not shanties but houses made of concrete, wood and steel.
The demolition of the 120 houses started last Monday.
"It may take longer than three days. These are houses which don't belong to the underprivileged and the homeless. For the 10 percent of the occupants that are indigent, City Hall has plans for their relocation," Sagun said.
Sagun explained that City Hall is conducting an evaluation of all affected residents in order to make sure that the applicants are genuine indigents and are not out to take advantage of free housing and land.
"Concerning the soldiers who comprise about 35 to 45 percent of the affected settlers, the payments would be subtracted from their quarterly allowances," Barbieto said.
He also said they plan to install 13 10-door apartments in the area where the houses will be demolished.
