PASIG MAYOR LEADS DEMOLITION OF SHABU SHANTIES

Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio led the demolition yesterday of 53
shanties at the Mapayapa compound, where a shabu "tiangge" (flea
market) had been operating for several years before police raided the
area last week.

"We are demolishing the shanties to symbolize our seriousness in
stamping out the drug menace in Pasig," said Eusebio, who noted that
this was the first of a series of planned demolition of squatter areas
aimed at preventing the establishment of more drug dens.

The compound on a 600-square meter lot in Barangay Sto. Tomas,
occupied by more than 300 families prior to Feb. 10 raid, was a
virtual ghost town when Eusebio and a demolition team arrived at 9
a.m.

The mayor was accompanied by lawyer Carlos Abesamis, Pasig City legal
officer, who invoked Articles 432 and 436 of the Revised Penal Code in
effecting the demolition of the shanties.

Under the provision, the government has the authority to demolish
structures, which pose an imminent danger to the community.

However, Director Marcelo Ele Jr., commander of the police
Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) said the
Pasig government should not have demolished the structures because the
compound was still a crime scene.

"He should not have done that without first coordinating with us," he
lamented.

Ele said he will coordinate with the Department of Justice and the
Department of Interior and Local Government to determine what action
to take against the mayor.

"Hindi nila dapat ginawa iyon dahil ebidensiya namin ang nandoon," he
said. At least 167 residents have been charged before the DOJ.

Ele, a lawyer, said the demolition should have been conducted after
the cases were resolved and upon the order of the court. Money maker
Ele said the syndicate running the "tiangge" sells at least two kilos,
or roughly P10 million worth of shabu daily.

He said another P10,000 is collected daily from parking and entrance
fees.

"Assuming that the entrance fee to the property is pegged at P10, then
at least 1,000 people visit the place. This further increases during
weekends," the AIDSOTF chief said.

Eusebio's decision to shut down and demolish the drug market ended a
highly lucrative money-making venture for the drug syndicate.

Using a payloader, crowbars and hammers some 100 workers from City
Hall, backed up by a Pasig SWAT team, tore down the shanties.

Eusebio noted the structures were relatively new.

He said the structures were rented out as "cubicles" to drug using
customers at prices ranging from P10 to P50, depending on the number
of occupants.

Even shanties constructed along the sidewalk in front of the compound
were not spared by the demolition team.

Ambrosio Sumadiya, 50, and his three children, who lived in a house
made of plywood on the sidewalk of the compound, was among those who
joined the ranks of the homeless.

A native of Aklan, Sumadiya said his family has no place to go. His
12-year old daughter will be graduating this March.

The mayor assured Sumadiya that the city government will include his
family in the financial program for those affected by the demolition.

The city government released yesterday P300,000 budget under their
"Balik Probinsiya" program, to help affected residents go back to
their respective provinces.

Each family is scheduled to receive P10,000 under the program.

Meanwhile, the city government filed charges of gross negligence and
dereliction of duty yesterday against Jesus Viray, chairman of
Barangay Sto. Tomas.

The City Council also passed a resolution calling for the suspension
of Viray for his failure to curb the rampant drug trade in the area.

Eusebio yesterday presided over a command conference, where he
discussed the drug den problem with barangay chairmen.

The mayor admitted that the Mapayapa tiangge was a big embarrassment
to his administration and has affected the image of Pasig as one of
the most progressive cities in the country.