Heavily armed demolition team of the Clarkhills Properties Corporation swooped down at Sitio Balubad, Barangay Anunas, Angeles City, on Tuesday morning and engaged in a shooting spree that injured six residents including an old woman.
The demolition operations took indignant residents by surprise after volleys of gunfire rained on them who kept vigil at Sitio Balubad since last year.
The Clarkhills management had claimed ownership of the more than 70-hectare of land after the Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) of the farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Land Reform Program had been cancelled.
An elderly woman who was hit in the chest was rushed to the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center along with three others. Two in critical condition were also rushed to the Jose B. Lingad Hospital in the City of San Fernando, according to Maryjoy Paragas of Sitio Balubad.
Paragas said the demolition team had already entered the area and residents including them are preparing their belongings. “Maghahanap muna po kami ng mare rentahan.”
CHARGES READIED
Meanwhile, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. has strongly condemned in strongest terms the shooting of unarmed residents at Sitio Balubad.
Mayor Lazatin said the Angeles LGU will press charges against those involved behind the shooting rampage that injured six residents.
On February 8, 2024, a similar surprise demolition proceeding had resulted to a heated confrontation between the Clarkhills demolition team assisted by the police and the indignant residents. The violent confrontation had been played out for several times.
After the series of surprise demolitions, the Angeles LGU said it will proceed with the expropriation of the contested land to bring peace in the area, which is adjacent to the bustling Korean Town and the Clark Freeport Zone.
A mapping conducted by the Angeles LGU had indicated that there were 535 households and around 2,000 families at Sitio Balubad, Barangay Anunas.
Mayor Lazatin has vowed to pursue expropriation of the contested land to bring peace and order in the area.
Lazatin, who has met with officers of Balubad Homeowners Association at the City Hall recently, and told them that he will never abandon them as the Angeles LGU proceeds with the expropriation of the contested land, “Walang bibitaw, hindi ako bibitaw, hindi ko kayo iiwan.”