Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information from the Defend Job Philippines about the forced demolition of roughly 277 houses in Sitio Balacabacan, Laiya, Batangas, Philippines. The demolitions were carried out on 3 July 2014. The AHRC has also learnt that the authorities are intimidating the community which is now living in makeshift tents after vacating the area.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On July 3, 2014, a demolition team consisting of members of Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and Special Weapons and Tactics descended on Sitio Balacabacan, Laiya, Batangas and forcibly demolished roughly 277 houses. The team came in more than 25 buses had more than 2000 individuals. The houses were inhabited by around 600 families survived on fishing and agricultural activities. The demolition drive was extensive and did not spare a single house. Everything in the community was crushed and flattened, including small fruit trees and vegetables. The residents hold that the impact of the demolition was worse than typhoon Haiyan that devastated the Philippines last year.
Many of the residents who are now displaced tried to resist the demolition drive by forming human barricades. However, they, could not hold on for long as they were confronted with truckloads of armed police and hundreds of demolition workers. Immediately after the demolition, the community was fenced with barbed wire. More than 160 private armed guards were then deployed to guard the location. Police and military are regularly monitoring the area. The residents are not allowed to enter the vicinity or to fetch water from their wells. The authorities have also sealed the road to the sea and declared it a restricted area. The armed guards are threatening anyone trying to violate this order.
This destruction has led the fishermen to lose their livlihood as they can no longer access the sea for fishing and parking their boats on the shores adjacent to the demolished community. For the community dependent upon sea for their food, this is a major assault on their livelihood security. The community has lived here for more than 100 years. Ninety percent (90%) of the residents are dependent on fishing while others are in farming. The residents suspect that the authorities are conspiring with businessman Federico Campos III, a rich beach resort tycoon and developer who has huge business interest in Sitio Balacbacan community.
The evicted families have built makeshift tents in the areas surrounding the national highway. However they have no access to water, electricity, and other basic amenities. The demolition has also traumatized the residents, children being the worst affected. Many of them have reportedly lost interest in going to school. The government, despite repeated requests from the community and civil society members, have turned a blind eye to these and other problems of the community. All it has offered is a token gesture of a relocation site. The residents ostensibly refused the offer as they are not fighting for relocation but for their right to the community lands and sea. In addition to that, the relocation site offered by the developer is temporary, far from the sea, and is not suitable for farming. Thus the relocation site does not in any way fit the main occupations of this community and is an unbearable challenge for the communities to sustain a livelihood.
The lack of accountability is evident in the fact that none of the government authorities are willing to take responsibility to restore the lands and rights of these people. They are rather burdening the displaced population with the additional tasks of finding their own livelihood and shelter. When the now homeless residents appealed to Rodolfo Manalo, Mayor of San Juan, Batangas, to restore their homes and their livelihood, he told the community that “you are on your own.” The governor of the province, Vilma Santos Recto, also ignored the request of the residents for a dialogue even before the demolition took place. Even the Barangay chairman (village) chieftain refuses to talk to the residents and to extend public service to the victims of demolition.
On August 28, the authorities have renewed the threats of another clearing operation to the community despite the fact that the residents have filed a petition in the court for a temporary restraining order.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, demanding intervention to ensure immediate rehabilitation of the community forcibly evicted from Sitio Balacabacan, Laiya and restoration of their land and livelihood rights.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ..........,
PHILIPPINES: Restore land and livelihood rights of families in Laiya
Names of the Victims: Community members of Sitio Balacabacan, Laiya, Batangas,
Names of the Perpetrators: Police personnel, Army, and other government authorities
Place & Time of Incident: Sitio Balacabacan, Laiya, Batangas, July 3, 2014 ongoing
I am writing to you with great concern over the demolition of community living in Sitio Balacabacan. You must be aware that on On July 3, 2014, a demolition team consisting of members of Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and Special Weapons and Tactics descended on Sitio Balacabacan, Laiya, Batangas and forcibly demolished roughly 277 houses. The team came in more than 25 buses had more than 2000 individuals. The houses were inhabited by around 600 families survived on fishing and agricultural activities. The demolition drive was extensive and did not spare a single house. Everything in the community was crushed and flattened, including small fruit trees and vegetables. The residents hold that the impact of the demolition was worse than typhoon Haiyan that devastated the Philippines last year.
Many of the residents who are now displaced tried to resist the demolition drive by forming human barricades. However, they, could not hold on for long as they were confronted with truckloads of armed police and hundreds of demolition workers. Immediately after the demolition, the community was fenced with barbed wire. More than 160 private armed guards were then deployed to guard the location. Police and military are regularly monitoring the area. The residents are not allowed to enter the vicinity or to fetch water from their wells. The authorities have also sealed the road to the sea and declared it a restricted area. The armed guards are threatening anyone trying to violate this order.
This destruction has led the fishermen to lose their livlihood as they can no longer access the sea for fishing and parking their boats on the shores adjacent to the demolished community. For the community dependent upon sea for their food, this is a major assault on their livelihood security. The community has lived here for more than 100 years. Ninety percent (90%) of the residents are dependent on fishing while others are in farming. The residents suspect that the authorities are conspiring with businessman Federico Campos III, a rich beach resort tycoon and developer who has huge business interest in Sitio Balacbacan community.
The evicted families have built makeshift tents in the areas surrounding the national highway. However they have no access to water, electricity, and other basic amenities. The demolition has also traumatized the residents, children being the worst affected. Many of them have reportedly lost interest in going to school. The government, despite repeated requests from the community and civil society members, have turned a blind eye to these and other problems of the community. All it has offered is a token gesture of a relocation site. The residents ostensibly refused the offer as they are not fighting for relocation but for their right to the community lands and sea. In addition to that, the relocation site offered by the developer is temporary, far from the sea, and is not suitable for farming. Thus the relocation site does not in any way fit the main occupations of this community and is an unbearable challenge for the communities to sustain a livelihood.
The lack of accountability is evident in the fact that none of the government authorities are willing to take responsibility to restore the lands and rights of these people. They are rather burdening the displaced population with the additional tasks of finding their own livelihood and shelter. When the now homeless residents appealed to Rodolfo Manalo, Mayor of San Juan, Batangas, to restore their homes and their livelihood, he told the community that "you are on your own." The governor of the province, Vilma Santos Recto, also ignored the request of the residents for a dialogue even before the demolition took place. Even the Barangay chairman (village) chieftain refuses to talk to the residents and to extend public service to the victims of demolition.
On August 28, the authorities have renewed the threats of another clearing operation to the community despite the fact that the residents have filed a petition in the court for a temporary restraining order.
I therefore urge you to ensure that
1. The demolition and clearing operation is immediately stopped;
2. All security personnel deployed after demolition, private or public, are pulled out from Sitio Balacbacan;
3. The community's road to the sea is reopened and barriers on it are removed,
4. Basic amenities like food, water and health are immediately extended to the families living in the make shift tents and continued until they are finished settling back into their homes.
5. The human rights violations committed by public officials, private individuals, and government offices are investigated and those found guilty are prosecuted.
6. A comprehensive policy on land development and resettlement is formulated and put in place to replace violent crack downs on vulnerable communities. The policy, as per the Philippines' commitment to United Nations treaties and conventions, must involve all the stakeholders including the residents.
Sincerely,
.......
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Benigno Simeon Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila
PHILIPPINES,
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Email: corres@op.gov.ph
2. Ms. Loretta Ann RosaLas
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
E-mail: chair.rosaLas.chr@gmail.com
3. Corazon Juliano-Soliman
Secretary
Department of Social, Welfare and Development
Constitution Hills, Batasan Pambansa Complex,
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel/Fax: +63 (2) 931-81-91
4. Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: lmdelima@doj.gov.ph
5. PROCESO J. ALCALA,
Secretary
Department of Agriculture
Elliptical Road, Diliman,
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Email: procyalcala@gmail.com
6. Vilma Santos Recto,
Governor
Batangas
Provincial Capitol Bldg.,
Batangas City 4200
PHILIPPINES
Fax: (63-43) 723-1338
7. Rodolfo H. Manalo,
Mayor,
San Juan Batangas
PHILIPPINES
Email: rodolfohmanalo@yahoo.com
Thank you
Hunger Alerts Programme
Right to Food Programme (foodjustice@ahrc.asia)
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
