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

WAYOUT Police officers lead Kadamay members out of the house they occupied early Wednesday at the police-military housing site in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez town (formerly Montalban). The urban poor group said it was merely “guarding” the unoccupied units that they were hoping to occupy. —EDWIN BACASMAS/Philippine Daily Inquirer

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prevent members of the militant urban poor group Kadamay from occupying government housing projects for policemen and soldiers, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Mr. Duterte issued the directive to the PNP during a joint command conference with the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines in Malacañang on Tuesday.

Such order of the President was announced as 500 Kadamay members tried to occupy idle housing units in Rodriguez, Rizal on Wednesday.

“Well, in the past, the President allowed Kadamay to occupy government housing project intended for soldiers in Pandi. But if you will recall, the President said that would be the first and the last,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

“Given this latest attempt, the President has given directives to the police that Kadamay should not be allowed to take over these housing units,” he added.

The Palace official said Mr. Duterte also instructed the National Housing Authority to explain why the housing project remains idle.

“And the order has been directed to the NHA to explain why we have idle housing units, and when they intend to give these housing units to the intended beneficiaries,” he said.    /kga