Tension prevailed in Pontevedra town yesterday when town workers tore down the squatters' dwellings in Purok 1, Brgy. 1 but Mayor Jose Benito Alonso vowed to continue the demolition until they get back the land that belongs to the municipal government.

The affected families are occupying a portion of the 24-hectare area that is the future site of the town's government center.

In a telephone interview with the DAILY STAR yesterday Alonso said that of the almost 200 families staying in the area, about 130 have already volunteered to leave and transfer to a relocation site.

All the squatter families have occupied about three hectares of the 24-hectare government property located along the town coastline.

Alonso said that their team demolished four houses located inside a compound yesterday.

Footages of TV Patrol Bacolod yesterday showed residents throwing hot water and shouting at the demolition team. Their electricity and water supply were reportedly cut off.

Policemen from the Regional Mobile Group were also deployed in the area.

Some residents have been staying for free in the government land for more than 20 years and they claim that a portion of the area has already been allocated to them by virtue of a Sangguniang Bayan legislation.

Alonso said he had conducted dialogs with the affected families, who were assisted by the Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center, before proceeding with the demolition.

He said that they have secured a certificate of compliance from the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor that gave them 60 days to complete the demolition. He said the procedures being followed by the municipality is similar to that adhered to by the provincial government when Gov. Joseph Marañon proceeded with the demolition of the squatters' houses in Capitol properties in Bacolod City.

The municipal government is supposedly invoking Executive Order 152, on demolition by administration.

Before the demolition, a group of squatter families filed a petition for the issuance of Temporary Restraining Order and writ of injunction and sued Alonso for damages before the Regional Trial Court in La Carlota City presided by Judge Reynaldo Alon.

The court, however, denied the prayer for injunction on January 23. Still, before the decision came out, another group of squatter families filed a similar case against the municipal government.

Alonso said he based his actions on the January 23 court decision.

He said that the municipal government will also construct a gymnasium, public market and a jeepney and bus terminal in the area.*NLG

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