Residents of Sitio San Roque in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City protested on February 10 to oppose the threat of demolition in three areas of the sitio. The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) led the residents’ action at the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Quezon City Hall.

According to Kadamay–San Roque, more than 300 families face eviction in Areas I, G, and J for a planned road expansion leading to the Ayala-owned Vertis North mall. “This proves that false ‘development’ always displaces the urban poor in exchange of the profit of a few,” the group said.

Kadamay–San Roque added that the NHA and Ayala are using the schemes of “self-demolition” and financial aid to deceive residents into destroying their community and forcing them to leave. “Land, housing, and businesses are made available to foreigners and big capitalists, while worse conditions and slow death are imposed on the urban poor,” the group said.

Ayala’s security guards harassed and assaulted a resident from Area I a day before the protest. According to Kadamay–San Roque, the guards abruptly tore down the resident’s shack, which was only covered with tarpaulin. They also destroyed the things he uses for his livelihood.

The resident said this was the third time he was targeted. In addition, a purok leader was struck by a stone thrown by the guards. Another guard reportedly threatened to draw a gun.

Sitio San Roque has fought repeated demolition attempts for nearly three decades. The most notable struggle of the sitio was the barricade in September 2010, when residents bravely faced bulldozers, NHA personnel, and Quezon City local government forces to defend their homes. Their unity defeated the police that violently broke the barricade, fired water cannons, and threatened to shoot them. Seven residents were then injured, and two were arrested.

Meanwhile, the community and its allied groups formulated Sitio San Roque’s Community Development Plan in 2019, for which the Quezon City local government promised in 2024 an in-city relocation in Pingkian, which has not progressed to date.

The group said the community demands that the city government fulfill its promised in-city relocation. “This must be carried out before Mayor Joy Belmonte’s term ends,” the group said.