Manila Demolition Halted Amid Tense Standoff

Manila Demolition Halted Amid Tense Standoff: Residents Resist Eviction A scheduled demolition of homes in Barangay 262, Tondo, Manila, was unexpectedly halted on May 26, 2025, resulting in a tense standoff between residents and authorities. The event, captured on video by GMA News, shows police using water cannons to disperse residents who were protesting the demolition. According to GMA's report, the situation escalated when chairs were thrown and a bag suspected of containing gasoline was tossed towards the police. "We will not leave our homes," Angelina Consulta, a long-time resident, stated emotionally in the video, highlighting the decades residents have lived there. Sheriff Raymundo Rojas of the Municipal Trial Court, Branch 24, confirmed that a temporary restraining order was anticipated, suggesting a potential legal challenge to the demolition. The video also shows the emotional distress of residents who have lived in their homes for many years. The incident underscores the complexities surrounding urban development and displacement in Manila, raising questions about the balance between public works and the rights of residents. The temporary halt to the demolition offers a glimmer of hope for a more peaceful resolution to the conflict.