Authorities demolished more than five hundred houses in Arroyo Compound, Matina Crossing, Davao City, Friday morning.
Residents rushed to salvage belongings as demolition teams continued tearing down structures throughout the contested community.
Many families expressed grief while watching homes they built over decades reduced to rubble.
Some residents pleaded for additional time, citing their children’s ongoing school year obligations.
Police maintained a visible presence and reported that the demolition proceeded in an orderly manner.
Davao City Police Office Director Colonel Mannan Muarip confirmed the operation followed a Supreme Court ruling.
He emphasized that authorities must enforce decisions issued by the nation’s highest court.
Records showed the disputed property belongs to the Lhui family, which previously offered relocation options.
Several affected residents already transferred to designated relocation sites provided by the city government.
One relocation site stands in Barangay Tacunan, where beneficiaries received financial and housing assistance.
Residents who relocated reportedly obtained twenty thousand pesos and an eighty square meter lot.
Additional relocation areas operate in Barangay Talomo River and Dacudao in Calinan District.
However, other families remain uncertain about immediate relocation arrangements and future living conditions.
City officials have yet to announce further extensions despite emotional appeals from displaced homeowners.
