MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it is up to the National Housing Authority (NHA) to deal with the members of urban poor group, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) who forcibly entered another housing site earmarked for policemen in Rodriguez, Rizal.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, however, said allowing such gesture of Kadamay members will set an unfavorable precedent for the government.
“I think kung talagang kinuha yan then yung (National) Housing Authority, kung talagang ibibigay sa kanila or paalisin sila, (If they really took that, then the National Housing Authority, if they will give it to them or they will evict them) it will depend (on NHA). Kung mangyari kagaya doon sa Bulacan na hayaan na lang silang ano (If what happened in Bulacan, where they did the same, happens again), but then that will give us a probably a wrong indication na (that) anytime na pag makita silang bakanteng mga housing eh ookupahin nila (they will occupy vacant housing units that they see),” Albayalde said.
“Pati internet ay hihingin na sa gobyerno, kagaya sa Bulacan, pagbayad ng tubig at lupa ay tubig at kuryente ay hihingin na rin sa gobyerno(They will even ask the government to pay for their internet usage like what happened in Bulacan. They might even demand the government to pay for their rent, water and electric bills),” he added.
A group of about 500 Kadamay members staged a lightning strike in a bid to forcibly take over Phase 1-A of a housing project in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Albayalde explained that policemen entitled to units in the housing area would have quickly filled up the site if it would be offered to them.
“I think they’re not yet offered (housing units), yung iba kasi, wala pang nao-offer (some have yet to get offers), if those housings will be offered, (those) housing projects, marami ang kukuha sa atin (many of us would avail of that). Remember those units inaugurated in Negros, walang bakante doon (there were no vacant units there), kapag in-offer yan sa pulis natin (if those were offered to our police officers) and also with the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, mapupuno kaagad yan (It will be filled up quickly).
Albayalde pointed out that in Kadamay’s first take over of housing units in Bulacan, there were already owners of those properties when the illegal seizure was undertaken. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
