Settlers near the Mahiga Creek tried to resist the demolition team who came to tear down their shanties in sitio Mahusay, barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
More than 90 families blocked the demolition team and fought against them and the police assisting the team.
Senior Insp. Miguel Andeza, chief of Subangdaku Police Station, said three persons, one a 45-year-old grandmother, were arrested for blocking the demolition team and refusing to dismantle their shanties.
Endeza said the woman, who was identified as Florencia Villaceran, attempted to hit him with a bottle.
Villaceran was crying when she told reporters that she did not intend to hit Andeza with a bottle.
She said she was just surprised that the team arrived so she got a bottle. Villaceran is emotional as they are still holding the wake for her 10-month old granddaughter who died of dengue last Sunday.
She said she asked the barangay and the demolition team to extend their stay in the area until tomorrow but they did not grant her request.
Villaceran still hopes that the city government can provide a cheaper relocation area which will only require a small amount before they can occupy the lot.
They will be filing unjust vexation against the three arrested persons.
Andeza said he will also be asking the City Legal Office to charge the settlers with illegal squatting if they will still occupy the area after the clearing operation.
Vincent Guy Aquino, project coordinator of the Housing Urban Development Office (HUDO), said the occupants were given more than enough time to choose two options in order leave the area.
He said they were offered either to avail of the P10,000 financial assistance or transfer to the 6.5-hectare relocation area in Paknaan provided by the city government.
The demolition team was also accompanied by the City Social Welfare and Services, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and a paramedics team.
Another clearing operation was also conducted yesterday afternoon in sitio Mahayag.
Thursday last week, the team demolished 15 concrete houses in sitio Marna, in front of the Cebu City slaughter house.
The demolition went on peacefully.
The demolition of structures along the Mahiga Creek is part of the local government’s flood-mitigating measures.