Residents of Sitio Sapang Gody and Sitio Siwang in Barangay San Juan trooped to the municipal hall of Taytay, Rizal on November 26 to call for a dialogue with the local government and to denounce the threat of demolition in their area. The Sta. Lucia Corporation and Kristina Robles are forcibly taking over the land where they reside.

Instead of facing the residents, Mayor Allan De Leon hid and closed down the municipal hall. He even deployed two police vehicles and police officers to threaten and intimidate the protesters. They stopped the residents who wanted to hold a dialogue with the mayor from entering the municipal hall.

According to Kadamay-Rizal, closing the doors of the municipal hall and openly ignoring the people’s grievances are blatant acts of disrespect to Taytay citizens.

Aside from the threat of demolition, the residents also face surveillance and intimidation from the PNP Taytay. They have repeatedly seen the presence of intelligence personnel in their area, who monitor the organization’s activities and residents joining protest actions.

The residents affirmed that they will not stop until they attain the public services and housing rights that they deserve.