included in the site redevelopment plan and off-site resettlement was to be the only option. The NHA offered the community resettlement at a site in Montalban; however this was not accepted by respondents as they were concerned that the Montalban site was in a flood prone area and was too far from members’ current employment to be economically viable. While community-based negotiations ceased, the NHA commenced making resettlement offers to individual families, some of whom accepted and were resettled to various NHA sites outside the NCR. Respondents reported, however, that the conditions of this voluntary resettlement was that there was no transport assistance to the Montalban site, no compensation or other cash assistance for the transfer and no water or electricity connection was available at the site. They reported that earlier voluntary transferees were offered PHP1,000 and half a sack of rice, while the succeeding batch was only provided with 5 kilograms of rice and 3 packets of noodles to assist with the transfer. It was reported that at no stage during this period did the government attempt to use force to remove any members of the community from their homes. On 14 April 2010 the residents received a formal demolition notice from the NHA, which identified a 30-day notice period before the eviction would take place. During this period approximately 2,000 families transferred to Montalban, being assisted by the NHA. The eviction did not take place on 14 May, as stipulated in the initial eviction notice, and a second eviction notice was distributed by the NHA on 15 June. There was again no eviction on the stipulated 15 July deadline, and on 15 September members received a 7-day notice of eviction. Respondents reported that at approximately 1:00am on 23 September they noticed armed officials commenced encircling the community and various media representatives also setting up equipment in the vicinity. At 5am a large group of members established a human chain to block the entrance to the community from the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). It was reported that at approximately 8am that morning four large trucks arrived carrying approximately 500 individuals who dismounted from the trucks at the point of the blockade. There were bulldozers present and the individuals that left the trucks were carrying hammers and crowbars. Community leaders attempted to negotiate with the police, who were present, although during these negotiations some members of the demolition team commenced the destruction of dwellings within the community. Respondents reported that many of these individuals were either not wearing uniforms, or had removed their uniforms, and were accordingly difficult to identify in the crowd. Respondents stated that some community members threw objects at the demolition teams who responded with force, using the demolition implements to strike residents, many of whom sustained serious injuries. Community leaders decided to rally together and commence a blockade of EDSA, which is Metro Manila’s principal arterial road, and disrupt the flow of traffic in an attempt to focus attention away from the ensuing demolition. At this point, which was at approximately 3pm, the police at the site ordered the demolition team to stop, although they had already been able to destroy approximately 100 dwellings. Respondents noted that the police did not use their 71