DAVAO CITY — The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will deploy more than 1,000 policemen and another 1,000 demolition men for the execution of the demolition of houses in Salmonan area as leaders of the Maranaw tribe gathered Tuesday to sympathize with the affected Muslim families.
This, as the court sheriff is expected to serve the writ of execution to the settlers of the 3, 515 square meter plot of land in Salmonan who have organized as the Quezon Boulevard Muslim-Christian Neighborhood Association.
It may be recalled that the final notice of demolition was dated March 3 and presented to the affected families on March 27 The affected families, who have been barricading the area are expected to resist the demolition.
The affected residents are 67 households comprising of 34 Moro families and 33 Christian families.
City Chief of Police Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum said, “We’ll execute the operations either tonight (April 17) or tomorrow (April 18). We’ll deploy more than 1,000 security police personnel and 1,000 demolition men.”
He directed the police to secure and protect the Court Sheriff who will serve the demolition order and deploy the demolition men and ensure no one will be hurt.
Tagum vowed that violators will be arrested.
“We will ensure the rule of law and not the rule of force,” he assured.
Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag, who is currently the acting mayor, appealed to the affected settlers and the authorities to ensure a peaceful demolition of houses.
Al-ag said the court has coordinated with the Office of the Mayor and the DCPO for the implementation of the writ of execution.
“We will help the peaceful implementation of the writ of execution. We will follow the decision of the court,” he said.
According to Al-ag, the issue has been there for a long time. Even the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) through the City Housing unit had difficulty in interviewing house owners and tagging houses due to the owners’ resistance.
Al-ag said the city government would follow the court unless there is an injunction order.
“We expect resistance. Hangyo lang mi sa residents to follow the decision of the court (But I appeal to the residents to follow the decision of the court),” Al-ag told reporters.
Earlier, Mayor Sara Duterte assured the affected residents the city will provide a lawyer for them if they seek legal remedy.
“We will insist that all responsible agencies coordinate properly to ensure a smooth implementation of the writ,” she said.
In an earlier statement, the association claimed the families have been living in the area since 1965 when Salmonan was still a marshland.
The land was reportedly handed down to them from their grandparents. They collectively filled the marsh with soil to allow development in the area.
Barangay Captain Wating Usman of Brgy.23-C, was in the area Monday to sympathize with the Maranaws.
He claimed that the appeal of the affected families to suspend the demolition was not heeded. He said he is now asking for an extension of the demolition.
“Unta sa pagkakaron dili unta ipadayon ang demolisyon, sunod bulan ramadan na, louy kaayo ang mga tao (I hope for now the demolition will not push through, next month is Ramadan so have pity on the people),” Usman said.
Usman said he knew the history of the place where he also used to live. Usman claimed the area is around 3,350 square meters with 180 houses.
Salmonan belongs to Barangay 26-C. He said the affected residents have been living in the area since 1965. Usman, who cried during the interview, said he sympathized with the residents.
Usman appealed to Mayor Sara Duterte and President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene and solve the issue peacefully. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
