Pasay cops insist no fatalities in demolition
By Ashzel Hachero
Malaya – www.malaya.com.ph
Friday, November 20, 2009
THE Pasay city police force yesterday said it is ready to face an investigation over Wednesday’s violent demolition of shanties of Muslim residents along Roxas blvd.
"We are not hiding anything and we will not hide anything," Senior Supt. Raul Petrasanta said.
Petrasanta also denied the claim of Abdelmanan Tanandato, a Muslim community leader, that three residents were killed.
"While there were several people who were injured, including personnel from the demolition team and one of our men, no one was killed," he said.
Tanandato, in a phone interview, stood firm in his statement that Hakim Husman, 50, Rajid Batalo, 7, and Yacob Macalnas, 20 were killed by police escorts of the demolition team.
He said the three sustained gunshot wounds from an M-16 rifle and 9mm pistols.
He said as part of the Muslim tradition, the victims were buried before sunset at the Islamic Center nearby.
The policemen insisted they only fired warning shots in the air when some 50 residents hurled stones and bottles at the direction of the demolition team.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority belied reports that the shanties were demolished to give way to agency’s traffic project.
The operation was initiated by the Pasay city government for supposed construction of a commercial center," said MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno.
Nacianceno said the city government sought the agency’s help but it was turned down by chairman Bayani Fernando.
He said Fernando pointed out that MMDA demolishes only the structures that obstruct road rights of way.
CHR to probe cops who fired warning shots
By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer – www.inquirer.net
Friday, November 20, 2009
MANILA, Philippines--The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Thursday criticized the police for firing warning shots during Wednesday’s demolition of shanties on a government-owned property in Pasay City.
In a statement, Human Rights Chair Leila de Lima said that based on news reports, policemen who took part in the operation fired their guns into the air to scare off defiant residents who were armed with a “sumpak” or an improvised gun, molotov bombs, bottles and stones.
“The use of firearms is strictly prohibited during demolition operations. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has no justification for the discharge of firearms, whether for the purpose of firing warning shots, disabling or killing protesters,” De Lima said.
She added that the PNP manual on operational procedures was clear on the conduct of policemen in demolitions.
“Given that only nonlethal modes of violent intervention are allowed, such as tear gas and water cannons, and only as a last resort, clearly the PNP, by its own rules, cannot use firearms in demolitions,” De Lima said.
She called on the police to properly document and identify those who may have used firearms, both from their own ranks and from the demolished community, adding that the CHR would conduct a probe of the incident.
Pasay police chief, Senior Supt. Raul Petrasanta, meanwhile, admitted that some of his men may have violated standard operating procedure when they fired at the residents.
“During a commotion, warning shots were fired. We are still investigating the policemen who were involved in this,” he said. With Allison W. Lopez
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