[As CGMA is transferred to VMMC while threat of demolition of homes continues] North Triangle residents call on Aquino to junk Arroyo’s EO 620, to probe on anomalous pricing of San Roque land during her term as president

PRESS RELEASE l 09 December 2011
KALIPUNAN NG DAMAYANG MAHIHIRAP
For interview, please contact Carlito Badion, Kadamay national vice chair, 09393873766.

An urban poor group called September 23 Movement facing threat of demolition of their homes calls on President Aquino to investigate the anomalous joint-venture contract between the National Housing Authority and Ayala Land Inc.(ALI), where San Roque land in North Triangle is allegedly priced at an amount almost half of its actual price.

According to Estrelieta Bagasbas, this happens during the Arroyo administration, together with other anomalous contracts entered by the previous government, and it is only one of the many reasons why the ex-president does not the deserve to be at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) while cases files against her are being heard in the trail court.

Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is expected to be transferred to the VMMC, a hospital a stone-throw-away from Sitio San Roque. Residents plan to stage a protest action as the ex-president arrives to the said hospital, together with other sectoral organizations.

In 2007, Arroyo passed Executive Orders 620 (Rationalizing and speeding up the development of the East and North Triangles, and the Veterans Memorial Area of Quezon City, as a well-planned, integrated and environmentally balanced mixed-use development model) and EO 620-A (Expanding the composition of the Urban Triangle Development Commission and clarifying its structure and functions). “These orders have ensured the demolition of homes of some 24,000 urban poor families, including transfer if not liquidation and face-off of government offices and hospitals including the VMMC,” according to Bagasabas.

The group has been calling for a repeal of the said orders, citing the right of residents who have been residing the community for decades, and posting question on who will benefit from the said business district.

Partners in crime
Meanwhile, a national urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap has dubbed Mrs Arroyo and President Aquino as ‘partners in crime.’ “No doubt Aquino will not push for the incarceration of the ex-president for he fears the same fate would fall into him when he is out of power. They are both in connivance with the big foreign and local businessmen who rob the urban poor of their space in the cities,” said Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national secretary-general.

“Unless Aquino repeal Arroyo’s EO 620 and 620-A, investigate the anomalous joint-venture contract between the NHA and the ALI, and finally bring Arroyo into where she really belongs, the residents of North and East Triangle will never be silent,” said Bagasbas.

Last December 2, select San Roque residents classified as owner of illegal structures have received 7-day notices of eviction from the office of the NHA. Today, as Arroyo is to be transferred to VMMC, the residents are also on guard against possible demolition of their homes. At the same time, they will join this morning the protest action at the gate of the hospital to be led by Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (BAYAN) against the hospital arrest of the ex-president.###