MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III has ordered the National Housing Authority (NHA) to stop all demolitions and involuntary resettlements in the wake of the violent clash between informal settlers and government wrecking crews last Thursday at North Triangle in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City.

NHA General Manager Chito Cruz bared this on Friday in an interview over dzBB radio.

“The President ordered me to stop all demolitions and involuntary resettlement until he has reviewed all the facts about this case and our compliance with legal requirements. So we are stopping demolition operations now,” Cruz told dzBB radio.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said President Aquino instructed him to order NHA to suspend the relocation of families living in the NHA property in Sitio San Roque II in North Triangle who opposed their transfer to the proposed relocation site in Rodriguez, Rizal.

"The President is saddened by the events that transpired yesterday (Thursday) and has ordered the NHA to ensure that any future relocation plan be implemented peacefully,” Ochoa said in a statement.

“While the President respects the families' right to oppose their relocation to Rizal, he nonetheless calls on them to exercise their right to protest in a peaceful manner. He has likewise instructed all authorities to exercise maximum tolerance and is confident that the issue will be resolved by the parties involved,” Ochoa said.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) Branch 226 Judge Maria Luisa Padilla late Thursday ordered the NHA to stop the demolition of the shanties at North Triangle.