SHELTER CALL Amid heavy rain, members of Kadamay stage a protest at the National Housing Authority office in Rodriguez, Rizal, to press authorities to give them idle government housing units.—NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
Malacañang on Thursday warned members of the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) against occupying government housing projects or they would “face the full extent of the law.”
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Duterte had allowed Kadamay members to occupy a government housing project in Pandi town, Bulacan province, last year but noted that the President had also said “that will be the first and last (takeover).”
Roque issued the statement after 500 members of Kadamay attempted to take over a government housing project in Rodriguez town, Rizal province, on Wednesday.
They were, however, driven away by policemen from the housing project intended for police and military personnel.
NHA explanation
“Given the latest attempt, the President has given directives to the police that Kadamay should not be allowed to take over these housing units and an order has been directed to the National Housing Authority (NHA) to explain why we have idle housing units and when they intend to give these housing units to the intended beneficiaries,” Roque said in a press briefing on Thursday.
Had the Kadamay members been successful in occupying the housing project in Rizal, they would have been “forcibly taken out and charged,” Roque said.
“But since they did not succeed in their attempt [on Wednesday], possibly there will be no charges filed,” he added.
Roque reiterated the President’s warning to the Kadamay members not to take the law into their hands.
“They will have to deal with the full extent of the law. The role of the President is to implement the law. He will implement the law,” he said.
Law and order breakdown
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the administration must file charges against those who would violate the law, after it had essentially condoned Kadamay’s first takeover of government housing units.
“This is failure to enforce the rule of law. They get used to it when we do not enforce the law,” Drilon said at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.
Sen. JV Ejercito, who chairs the Senate housing committee, agreed, saying Kadamay’s latest attempt to take over housing units “signifies a breakdown in law and order.”
It also underscored the government’s failure to provide decent housing to the people, Ejercito said.
Housing the poor
Still, he said forcibly taking over houses intended for police and military personnel was improper.
Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao called on the NHA yesterday to speed up the implementation of resolution by Congress that would have distributed idle, unawarded and unoccupied government housing projects to the poor.
He said Joint Resolution No. 2 was approved by Mr. Duterte more than a month ago.—REPORTS FROM CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO, LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND JEROME ANING