Duterte orders cops to stop Kadamay from occupying gov’t housing projects again

June 14, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to use the full force of the law to prevent members of the militant urban poor organization from forcibly occupying again government housing projects.

This was after some 500 members of Kadamay attempted to occupy a housing project for policemen and soldiers in Rodriguez, Rizal on Wednesday.

"Given this latest attempt, the president has given directives to the police that Kadamay should not be allowed to take over these housing units," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

Since the Kadamay members failed to occupy the housing units, Roque said they might not be charged.

"Well, they were not successful yesterday. If they were, they would be forcibly taken out and charged. But since they did not succeed in their attempt yesterday, possibly, there will be no charges filed. But the warning has been given by the president," he said.

But Roque said if they would do it again, "then, they will have to deal with the full extent of the law."

He said it is the role of the president to implement the law.

Roque said Duterte also ordered the National Housing Authority to explain why there are still "idle idle housing units and when they intend to give these housing units to the intended beneficiaries."

Some Kadamay members also occupied NHA housing units in Pandi, Bulacan last year.

Duterte allowed them to occupy the over 5,000 low-cost housing units in Pandi as he promised the supposed policemen and soldier-beneficiaries that the government would just build better and bigger shelters for them. Celerina Monte/DMS