ANGELES CITY — Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. has condemned the shooting at Barangay Anunas here, where six residents of Sitio Balubad were injured.
Lazatin also committed to probing the dispute between Clarkhills Properties Corporation and the residents after several demolition attempts led to shooting incidents.
“I am condemning in strongest terms the shooting of residents today (March 12) at Angeles City, where six residents were injured,” Lazatin said in a statement.
Clarkhills has yet to issue a statement on the incident as of posting time.
Reports showed that the recent altercation followed a series of heated encounters between Sitio Balubad’s residents and Clarkhill’s demolition team due to disputed lands in the area.
The company’s demolition attempts began in October 2023 but were unsuccessful owing to the opposition of Sitio Balubad residents.
On Feb. 8, a surprise demolition proceeding led by Clarkhills led to a confrontation between the residents and the demolition team assisted by the police. The standoffs reportedly played out several times leading up to the shooting.
Witnesses said Clarkhills security guards fired toward residents, who were reconstructing the wall destroyed by the demolition crew following the Feb. 8 clash, resulting in the injuries.
Other reports said two journalists who were covering the demolition faced threats and intimidation from “armed men,” the Olongapo chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said.
Sitio Balubad residents expressed their terror towards the events and worried for the well-being of their children.
“Hindi na nga po kami makapagtrabaho, sana po matapos na ang isyu na ito. Baka po kasi masaktan ang mga bata sa pagpapaputok ng baril,” said resident Maryjoy Paragas.
Residents also said that after a relief and medical mission by the Angeles local government unit led by Lazatin, Clarkhills’ security guards again fired their shotguns as they manned the disputed land behind Sitio Balubad.
Although there were no reported injuries during this incident, the back-and-forth between the developer and the Balubad residents continues.
Lazatin, who has met the officers of the Balubad Homeowners Association at City Hall, reassured the residents of the LGU’s efforts towards the expropriation of the contested lands and charging of the culprits.
“Walang bibitaw, hindi ako bibitaw, hindi ko kayo iiwan,” Lazatin said.