Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 14) – All is quiet Friday at a fishing village in Maragondon, Cavite a day after a court-ordered demolition turned violent, with residents clashing with police and the demolition team.
The incident in Patungan Cove, Barangay Sta. Mercedes on Thursday left at least 13 people hurt according to residents and police: five villagers, five policemen, and three members of the demolition team.
The demolition order covers a 4 to 5-hectare land – home to more than 600 families.
A CNN Philippines video on Thursday showed dozens of agitated residents running along the seashore, some hurling stones at members of the demolition team carrying shields. Shots could be heard in the background.
On Friday, groups of residents were seen huddled along the shore, on guard beside sandbags around the community. Glass bottle shards and a spent bullet casing litter the ground. There were no police or demolition team members in sight.
Fisherfolk organization Pamalakaya said the Manila Southcoast Development Corp. (MSDC) — a subsidiary of Sy-led conglomerate SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) — plans to convert the area into an exclusive beach resort.
CNN Philippines’ Stanley Buenafe Gajete contributed to this report.
SMIC, however, denied it has an investment in the property nor is the group in any talks to acquire land in the disputed area.
“The area of the demolition incident that happened last Jan. 13, 2022 is not a property of SM,” it said.
Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla refused to give a comment due to personal reasons, while Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla and other local officials of Maragondon were not answering phone calls.
