April 12, 2012 (posted) Church – Urban Poor Solidarity (CUPS) Five (5) major churches leaders
and Three Hundred Fifty (350) peoples attended the launching of Church-Urban Poor Solidarity (CUPS) in Sitio Damayan. The affair was facilitated by
ACCE Philippines with the coordination of other NGO and Churches |
May 14, 2012 (posted) ISLA PUTING BATO Tondo, Manila Tens of thousands of people remain homeless and are currently being cramped in public gyms and schools in Tondo, Manila. “The residents of Isla Puting Bato are being victimized twice over. First by the Friday inferno, and now by the failure of the national and local government to address the urgent need of the people to rebuild their homes and resume their livelihood.” “The soup kitchen set up by Manila Mayor Lim is being reduced to nothing but a show by the fact that his government is stopping people from returning to their communities.” “The residents of Isla Puting Bato are indignant at how they are being forced to accept a relocation plan by the government’s prohibition against returning to their homes which prolong their agony in the evacuation centers,” “They are being made to sign an agreement to have them relocated to San Jose, Bulacan, far away from their schools, livelihood and places of employment.” “In line with the Aquino regime’s Public-Private Partnership program, the Manila government has long worked for the eviction of the residents of Isla Puting Bato in order to pave the way for commercial and infrastructure projects in the port area.” “There is widespread belief that the Friday inferno was intentionally set ablaze in order to force the people out of their homes and communities. This belief is now further boosted by the fact that the residents are being prevented from returning to their razed homes.”
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July 23, 2012 (posted) A WOMAN-LEADER DIED
A day before the State of the Nation address of President Benigno Aquino, III, a mother, a church advocate, a woman-leader, a human rights advocate, a brave comrade was killed by a lone gunman in front of her house in Sitio Damayan, otherwise known as Smokey Mountain II, Barangay 105 in Tondo.
The victim , Marilou Valle, received a total of 3 gunshot wounds in the left cheek, below the lower lip, and in the lower right shoulder. She died instantly. The incident happened between 5:27 and 5:34 in the afternoon on 22nd July 2012.
The crime was witnessed by neighbors and relatives who identified the killer as Benjamin Tejas but declined to be named for fear of their lives. Some people also saying that they are three (3) , one is an unidentified name man, secondly is Benjamin Tejas, and Raffy Tejas. According to Jomar, the son of the victim, a gun was pointed at him but he run for his life. A shot was directly fired at him but luckily it missed.
According to other witnesses, the killer belongs to a gang known for terrorizing the community for years. This group has never been apprehended due to their strong connections with the barangay officials in the area. The killer is also believed to be cuddled by some police authorities assigned in Tondo.
Malou had been receiving death threats in the past months before and after filing cases of grave threat, gun totting and child abuse against Raffy Tejas, Benjamin Tejas, Sonny Tejas and Conchita Tejas, wife of Raffy. These cases were filed 3rd week of March 2012 after Malou and her family were threatened at gunpoint by these people on 4 March 2012 after distributing leaflets of anti- demolition at Sitio Damayan.
The case is under preliminary investigation at the office of Fiscal Ortiz, Branch 34, Manila City Hall.
Malou’s relatives went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the PNP this morning to inform about the killing . Right after killing Malou, witnesses saw Benjamin Tejas and Raffy Tejas, Barangay Security Officers went to the house of Malou’s brother, situated in a nearby street and fired several bullets. Malou’s brother and nephew were hit in the legs and foot. They were brought to a nearby Tondo hospital.
Malou is a community leader who dreamed of owning a house near the dumpsite, her only known source of livelihood –scavenging. She is against the Reclamation Development Program of the government from Manila Bay to Bataan where thousands of urban poor like her neighbors are threatened to be demolished. . Her fight against demolition is not only a fight for her family but a fight for the welfare of the community.
Malou will be 44 on her birthday this coming September . She left behind a husband and 10 children. Six (6) of her children are still studying - 2 are still in high school and 4 are in the elementary.
Residents in the community received threats from the accused that they will also be killed if they attended the wake of Malou. Another threat was received by a bishop through text from one of the leaders of the community saying that a grenade will be thrown during the wake of the victim. |
July 30, 2012 (posted)
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October 15, 2012 (posted)
Signatures of 5012 people with attached letters to the office of the President in the Philippines. ACCESS - Japan visited the General Consulate of the Philippines in Osaka, Japan They still continue collecting signatures, ACCESS Japan staff lead by FIT will never give up on supporting people in SM2.    |
May 23, 2013 (posted)
CHURCH-URBAN POOR SOLIDARITY (CUPS) Sitio Damayan, Barangay 105 Vitas, Tondo Manila
May 20, 2013
Hon. Francisco Solomon Assistant City Prosecutor Manila City Hall Ermita, Manila
Dear Sir:
Warm greetings of peace!
The Church-Urban Poor Solidarity (CUPS), an organization of church people and urban poor settlers in Sitio Damayan, Barangay 105, Vitas, Tondo, Manila, wishes to follow up on the following cases:
1. Case No. INV.12H-05338 2. Case No. XV-07-INV. 12H-05614
The first case is a charge of murder by gun shooting against Benjamin A. Tejas and is being handled by your good office. We understand that during its hearing on October 4, 2012, your honor promised to bring the case to the court.
The family of Marilou Bacani Valle, the shooting victim, followed up the case with your office in March and April this year, but was told to return after sixty (60) days.
After that, we have not heard anything about the case. May we please know from your good office if the case was already submitted to the proper court?
The second case which is a frustrated murder filed against Gerry Gaditano et.al. by Gerry Santiago Valle, brother-in-law of Marilou Bacani Valle, and is being handled by the Hon. Maria Rona Flor A. Ortiz, Assistant City Prosecutor, Manila City Hall.
May we also knowif this case has reached the court?
We understand from George de Jesus, husband of Marilou B. Valle, that Mayor Alfredo S. Lim has ordered the Chief City Prosecutor, Hon. Eufrosino A.Sulla, to expedite the cases. This happened during the visit to the Office of the Mayor on September 26, 2012 by George and his family, officers of KADAMAY- Manila, CARITAS-Manila, and Professor Fatima Castillo of UP Manila.
As church people serving the residents of Sitio Damayan, we are interested to know the developments on the aforementioned cases.
Looking forward to you reply, we are
Very truly yours,
For the Church-Urban Poor Solidarity,
BISHOP ELMER M. BOLOCON Chairperson and Administrative Pastor of UCCP-Tondo Evangelical Church 2224 R. Fernandez St., Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila
Copy furnished: Hon. Alfredo S. Lim Mayor, City of Manila Ermita, Manila |
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/431511/p18000-offered-to-each-squatter-family-to-live-away-from-waterways
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