Residents of this Manila slum attack police with homemade Molotov cocktails - and anything else they can turn into a weapon.<br/> <br />Clashes broke out on Monday after community members attempted to block demolition workers from tearing down their illegal settlement.<br/> <br />Police responded by blasting rioters with water cannon and tear gas and were eventually able to bypass the blockade.<br/> <br />Around 250 people are expected to lose their homes.<br/> <br />Authorities had promised the evicted families cash to move outside the city, but many refused, saying they'd be unable to find work or get basic social services.<br/> <br />They were left in despair as they watched their homes being destroyed.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) TAXI DRIVER RUBEN PERENCIO SAYING:<br/> <br />"This is our land, but they took it. They used force. We can no longer fight them."<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) RESIDENT ADELINA ABIDABLE SAYING:<br/> <br />"We have no more choices left. They are here, they entered our community."<br/> <br />An estimated 1.5 million people in the capital live in informal settlements built on unused land owned by private businesses or the government.<br/> <br />The sprawling shanty towns are often blamed for blocking and polluting city waterways, which cause massive flooding during the monsoon season.
