Snatchers’ hideouts demolished under Ortigas bridge

The local government of Cainta, Rizal has cleared makeshift shelters under a bridge along Ortigas Avenue that were reportedly being used as hideouts by snatchers.

“They live under the bridge in Ortigas,” said Cainta mayor-elect and current municipal administrator Keith Nieto.

Nieto said he gave the informal settlers three days to vacate the area after receiving reports that the number of shanties was growing and that the location was being used by snatchers and cable thieves. Stolen electrical wires were reportedly stripped of copper and sold to junk shops.

"Three days have passed and our team returned to clean the area. We brought a truck and people to do this," Nieto added.

He said that one of the settlers was granted a housing lot in the local government’s Balai community project, while another was fetched by relatives in Marick, and one more was sent home to Taytay.

“The remaining four were brought to our shelter, where they will stay until they decide what they want to do with their lives,” Nieto said.

He added that weekly inspections will be conducted to ensure no one returns to the site. “There are three more bridges scheduled for clearing in the coming days,” he said.