Amid the ongoing efforts to demolish an area at Mayhaligue in Tondo, Manila, tensions among its residents and the demolition team loom, as the former made efforts to block the entrance gate.
On early Monday, May 26, RH 29 Boy Gonzales reported that a demolition team arrived at Mayhaligue in Tondo, Manila, for the demolition. As authorities arrived in the area, residents quickly blocked the entrance gate.
The residents insisted that there was no Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Supreme Court. Still, the Manila Police District (MPD) stated there are documents to prove that a demolition is scheduled on the said date.
Where it began
In an earlier report for DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Ruby Dela Cruz, the President of Mayhaligue, Tondo’s Kapitbahayan, said that approximately 100 houses are set to be demolished.
“Ang bahay po siguro nasa less than 100 na kabahayan [at] ang pamilyang apektado ay kulang-kulang 400 pamilya,” she said.
Dela Cruz recalled that in 2022, a letter was delivered to the residents, asking them to attend a meeting with the attorney. She and the officers from their association attended the said meeting, and were informed that a corporation had already bought the property, adding they had two land titles.
“Ang sabi po niya [lawyer], “anytime gagamitin na po ng may-ari yung lugar kaya andito ako para makipag-usap sa inyo, [at] alamin kung ano ang pwede namin maging tulong sa inyo,” she recalled.
The demolition notice
Dela Cruz said they received a demolition notice on February 27, 2025. Following that, they filed an appeal at the Municipal Trial Court (MTC). However, Dela Cruz stated that the MTC denied their appeals twice.
“Ang dinadaing po ng mga tao dito is dalawang beses na pong na-deny sa MTC yung sinampa nilang kaso laban sa amin,” she said.
Gonzales reported that Dela Cruz had mentioned receiving a memo from the Philippine National Police (PNP), detailing that the demolition in their area is scheduled from May 26 to 27, 2025.
“Plano po naming makipag diyalogo sa kanila, [at] sabihin sa kanila kung ano yung dinadaing po namin na naniniwala po kami na magiging ilegal ang demolisyon na gagawin nila. Kasi po ang writ order of demolition nila at ang execution nila ay galing sa MTC, na kung saan ang MTC ay idinismiss na po ang kaso laban sa amin due to lack of jurisdiction last May 19, 2023 pa po,” Dela Cruz said.
“Nagtataka po kami [na] bakit pinayagan ng MTC 24 na tanggapin yung amendment complaint nila na in fact, na-denied na po yang kaso na ‘yan dahil wala nga daw po silang jurisdiction, pero sila nga po yung nagre-release ng demolition order namin,” she added.
According to her, they do not have a land title, but are bona fide tenants. She explained that, similar to them, it was where their grandparents were born and grew up.
In a follow-up report by Gonzales, he said that tensions among the residents and the demolition team continue.
Moreover, Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo, alongside three councilors, had also arrived at the scene.
At least 400 families will be affected by the demolition.
WATCH: Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo, dumating na rin sa Mayhaligue sa Tondo kung saan idedemolish ang mga kabahayan.
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 26, 2025
Samantala patuloy na tumataas ang tensyon sa pagitan ng pulisya at mga residenteng nakaharang sa mga gate. | RH 29 @boy_gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/gH5ZvWIW8p
