Three killed, 10 injured as violent protests rock Pasay

Manila: Three people died after violence broke out Wednesday morning between a group of Moro informal settlers and policemen sent to demolish their dwellings in suburban Pasay City.

Norhaia Macusing of the Moro Human Rights Centre told Gulf News in an interview that the Pasay City police were dispersing a group of residents opposing the demolition of structures adjacent to the Baclaran mosque, when gunshots rang out around 7.30 am.

She said the violence resulted in three fatalities including a seven-year-old boy, and injured 10 others, three of whom are members of the Pasay City police.

"Among the dead was a seven year-old boy, Rajib Natalo while a 40-year-old Imam, Mus Baniaga, was among the injured," Macusing said.

Pasay City police officials had denied that there had been fatalities but Macusing said they have the names of the three confirmed deaths from the violence.

She said that aside from Natalo, the other fatalities were Hakim Usmanm 30, and Yacob Macaona.

"The fatalities as well as the injured had been taken to various hospitals," she said.