Kadamay members decry Duterte threats

Despite poor weather, members of the urban poor group Kadamay gather in a market in Pandi town in Bulacan province to drum up their campaign for free housing. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE

PANDI, BULACAN—Strong rain caused by Tropical Storm “Gorio” and the enhanced southwest monsoon did not stop 50 members of the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) from gathering here to protest what they perceived to be threats hurled at them by President Duterte.

The group assembled at the public market here, expecting to be joined by as many as 3,000 members. But the rain prevented most of them from proceeding to Barangay Siling Bata in Pandi, said Lea Maralit, Kadamay chair for Bulacan province.

In his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday and during a meeting with the families of slain soldiers on Tuesday, Mr. Duterte warned Kadamay of serious repercussions should it repeat the March 8 takeover of more than 5,000 housing units at six government resettlement projects here and in the city of San Jose del Monte.

He said he would “enforce laws against anarchy, disturbances and those who would create trouble.”

Kadamay families took over houses built at the Padre Pio social housing project in Barangay Cacarong Bata, Pandi Residences 3 and Pandi Village 2 resettlement projects in Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Villa Elise project in Barangay Masuso, Pandi Heights 1 project in Barangay Cacarong Bata and Villa Louise housing site in Barangay Siling Bata, all in Pandi.

They also took over houses at the San Jose del Monte Heights project in Barangay Muzon in San Jose del Monte.

Some of these houses were intended for soldiers and policemen.

In April, Mr. Duterte encouraged soldiers to drop their claims over the occupied units, promising to build them “better homes.”

“We no longer believe we will be acquiring the houses we occupy now that he has announced at the Sona that we will be driven away if Kadamay attempts to occupy more units,” Maralit said.

Kadamay believed its members were deceived, she said, adding that Mr. Duterte had promised to give them more than 1,000 units meant for soldiers and policemen in order to pacify them.

The Kadamay members, who braved the rain, stayed for an hour at the market, displaying placards that criticized Mr. Duterte and his policies. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE