Slum Residents Clash with Police over Forced Evictions

Slum residents clashed with police in Manila on Monday in an attempt to block a demolition order issued by the local government. Illegal settlers in an abandoned government compound formed a human barricade and threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at an approaching demolition team. Anti-riot police retaliated by blasting the residents with water cannons and tear gas. At least seven people were injured in the clash most of which were police officers. Authorities said they had exercised maximum tolerance against the residents even though they were advised to evacuate the one-hectare compound. Around 250 families are expected to lose their homes due to the demolitions. Several slum communities around the capitol have been cleared in the past year to make way for infrastructure and property projects.