...squatters vs police: the never ending story of clash and violence
By jeanneyvonne
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
Philippines
April 25, 2012 6:09am CST
The results of Silverio Demolition is still making waves. The demolition turned ugly and bloody when the police clashed with the residents in the area. Basically, the residents do not want to be kicked out of their known residence, even though they know that there is a private owner who owns the land and there is a court order to have them removed. The police meanwhile was order to implement zero tolerance but I guess, even that didn't work. Now, there's another demolition coming up. Another possible grim episode of the clash between the police and these residents. In your opinion, is there a good guy and a bad guy here? Who is to blame? And will this ever end?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@newgirl0511 (166)
•
25 Apr 12
I heard a news today that a lady who do not have a land title established a three story building on that area and now she is asking for payment for the damage done. In the first place. She do not have a land title which means that she do not have the right to built a building for that property. All people who establish a lifestyle on that area are struggling for their right that they don't even recognize. They don't have the right to build a house, establishment or residential on that area but still they are insisting for that right. That's the most abusive attitude for those people. the owner or the government let those people live for decades on that area and now that it is being kept by someone who has the legal right. Those people would let themselves killed and wounded for no reason at all. To prevent violence. Move on and make a better life. Accept what the government offers.
@jgaces (80)
• Philippines
25 Apr 12
Hi Newgirl it is sad to know that, having your money wasted in a glimpse because of the land that you never owned. But the sad part is the government should had informed the people around the vicinity that anytime the government can take their lands and demolish the houses because it is a government property.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
@ newgirl. Well, some squatters take the offer and others don;t for many reasons that are known to them. I guess the government is trying to accommodate them but for some people that it not enough and maybe, will never be enough. I don't know why they won't take the offer because they clearly have no possible attachment to the alnd - my assumption is that they didn't work for ti in the first place.
@jgacerss - Even of the government informs them, there will be a portion of them who will not take the offer or rescind their 'rights' to the land. They consider it their property without any proof. and when they get thrown out, they complain and they feel angry about something that they never owned in the first place.
@ newgirl - excellent example. Cannot improve.
@ einerb - I echo your sentiment but some are just plain and very stubborn.
@einerb (97)
• Philippines
26 Apr 12
Time for them to move on and be true to themselves, nothing good will happen for being so opportunistic. Hope that they can learn, if they do not have their lot title they will be kick out by the authority. If they fight for what they stand they will just suffer even more.
@jgaces (80)
• Philippines
25 Apr 12
Without hesitation i would say that the government is the one to be blame.First you can't control people who want to live in places like Silverio because of poverty we can't blame them. The government should had talked or a meeting to those people living at Silverio for them to know what will be the situation or what will be their future if the houses will be demolished.The government should have planned it before making any decisions.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
@lgaces - I agree that you can't blame the people for going to manila but I don't tihnk the government should be blamed for mismanagement of people. You can't control or regulate migration; it can only control peace and order. Some people should have the sense that if it doesn't work out in the city, they can move to another place where there is opportunity.
@wittynet - another response that I cannot improve.
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
25 Apr 12
I believe they're doing the demolition because they know that people will not listen to them if they request them to evacuate the place. I also believe that someone has already talked to them with regard to this and they were given enough time to leave the place. They don't own the place. It's clear. They should at least be humble and should request the government to give them enough time to prepare all their things, not that they're protesting and fighting as if they have proofs that they own the place.
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
25 Apr 12
That is really not their land and squatting in most cases is against the law. If you look at it, the people are to blame because there are the ones that is trying to stop the demolition even if the court has already ordered it and the case they filed lost.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
Well, I don't know if they realize if they are fighting a losing battle. They are the position to end things and make things easier. guess they didn't take that choice.
@lady1993 (27224)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
I think both are to blame- since the people know that the land is not theirs but they still choose to start a life there and grow many.. even if how large their number may become the law is still above it all and everything an be demolished.. But i also think they should be given a land to move..
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
the question is - is anybody respecting or ignoring the law still? I think even before the demolition, there has been talks to inform these settlers of the law, the decision and the possible outcomes. But if they didn't accept it, that leads to another problem. I believe they are given options but some didn't take it.
@jobfindonline (1744)
•
25 Apr 12
I think until the poverty exist these scenarios in demolition will always be there. I hate to say these but because of poverty more and more people are going to a city like Manila to improve their living condition. Provinces have enough areas to accommodate these people but we all know that most job opportunities are in a wealthy city like manila. The government is also responsible for this, they should provide equal employment opportunity everywhere even in provinces. The government should do something about it. What is the purposes of taxes being collected by the BIR? Large part of it are being corrupted by government officials. If enough funds are to set aside with housing and job opportunities, problems like these will be solved.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
It is the mindset that everything in manila is possible that is wrong. people expect too much and perhaps, been disappointed too much. What I don't get is what they deliberately chose to go to Manila isolated of seeking opportunities in their respective provinces. They always think that being in the province is a low-standard. Personally, I don't share this idea and I'm better off with good opportunities rather than none in Manila.
@gazinglady30 (75)
• United States
26 Apr 12
The real owner of the land should be the one to be blamed in the first place. Should he had not tolerated these squatters to build their respective houses in that private lot, these problems wouldn't have arised. But the lesson here is that, use of violence on the part of the squatters should have been avoided if they have been helped to relocate and given compensations. They are already there, rooted to that place and of course, it is only natural that they would guard it with all their being since they had their blood and sweat invested in it. And that it is their life.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
I think you should put your assumption on a case-to case basis. I think every private owner don't like squatter son his land because it is a headache to maintain land but less deal with actual people sitting there. but you have a point that some owners aren't so efficient in maintain their own property. I guess it depends on who you talk to. if the squatters refused the offer, then the point of relocation and compensation is moot and invalid.
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
25 Apr 12
i don't think we will be seeing any of this stopping/ending soon. there are just those people who does not seem to care about others.. and with this statement i am talking about the people who squat (they are not even considering the fact that the land is not their own and they will of course be booted out of the place.. if you do not own it, its not yours to claim)... and also for the police who has to do their job... they have to make sure they carry out the orders given them, right?
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
Your right but some people take ti too eprosnally. It's their job and it's the squatter's job to go and find some place to live They should be at least be thankful if there is an offer of relocation and good services. Not everything should be handled out in a platter by the government or anyone else. work with what you have and improve it - maybe that will get them out of the squatters.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
25 Apr 12
I don't think this cycle is going to end. As long as there are poor people, there would always be squatters. It's not surprising for people to turn out violent if you're going to throw them out from the place they call their home. I won't take sides, the police are just doing what the court are telling them to do and those squatters are just doing what they can to prevent themselves from getting homeless. As long as the government can not come up with better ways to address the housing problem then what recently happened won't be the last.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
I have the same opinion but I was hoping against hope that somehow it might be resolved (one can nylon hope). The only thing sad about this situation is that some people don;t learn to accept things as they are and some people don't actually solve or even alleviate these problems. It would been better if people know how to give and take from each other.
@wittynet (4421)
• Philippines
25 Apr 12
These people can't understand that they don't own this place in the first place. As per my friend who knows very well about this issue, this land is owned by the government. They put up their houses here despite of the fact that they don't have any rights, and they are claiming that the government cannot just get rid of them and sell this land to others. As per my friend, they're insisting that they have the money to pay for this land, so the government should sell the land to them. I am sorry to say this, but these people are to blame. They have the guts to blame the government for this wherein they are the ones who are illegaly living in that place.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
27 Apr 12
Well, I tihnk there is also a lapse in terms of actually enforcing the law. The owners and the government should put restrictions on the land or grounds so that squatters won't be encouraged to put their dwelling in that particular strip of land. Constant surveillance and maintenance should be done on private and public lots so that they won;t have a problem in enforcing their ownership in the future. But I agree, that squatters should know their place in the situation.
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
15 Oct 12
There is no good or bad guy, it depends upon how the situation being explained. People by nature are always fighting for their rights. In that situation I will blame the squatters because there is an order that they must evacuate the place but they did not leave. This things will happen over and over again as long as the problem of squatters and over population cannot be solve.