The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor on Friday lauded the efforts of the Philippine National Police to maintain peace and order, and secure the safety of over beleaguered 1,000 informal settler families in a disputed property in Caloocan City.
Commissioner Rey Galupo said he believes that the police have stayed neutral to the land dispute besetting both the ISFs and the property developer, the Carmel Development Inc.
After a dialogue with Barangay 181 chief Bernardo Quiboy, Galupo sat down with the chief of the Caloocan City Police, Col. Samuel Mina, in a courtesy call at the police headquarter to request police visibility in the area, and validate the complaints of the residents.
Mina dismissed speculations that they were remiss in their duty to safeguard the welfare of the informal settlers in Pangarap Village,
Barangay 181.
The residents claimed they were locked down inside their community by the developer’s private guards.
Mina denied that residents were being prohibited by CDI’s security personnel from exiting or entering the village, saying the developer only wanted to prevent the entry of construction materials for the establishment of more houses in the place.
According to the PCUP, a house was recently allegedly strafed with gunfire, prompting Galupo to coordinate with the Caloocan police.
No one was reported hurt.
Mina, however, disclosed ordering a thorough investigation into the incident, saying probers failed to establish evidence pointing to the
CDI as the perpetrator.
He vowed to take all steps to preserve peace and order in the disputed area, such as the creation of a police assistance desk within the community.