Duterte calls on soldiers to give up Bulacan housing units to Kadamay

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 4): Duterte calls on soldiers to give up Bulacan housing units to Kadamay

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday asked soldiers and policemen to give up their housing units in Bulacan in favor of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) members who have occupied the housing project since last month.

Duterte made the call during the 120th founding anniversary of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio.

“This ruckus in Bulacan eh parang inagaw ng mga kapwa nating Pilipino na mahirap rin. I will look into the matter seriously and I will ask you soldiers and the policemen, bitawan na lang ninyo ‘yan, ibigay na lang natin sa kanila tutal mahirap sila,” Duterte said in his speech.

He said giving up the housing project meant for soldiers and policemen to Kadamay would prevent trouble and possible bloodshed.

“Ayaw ko kasing pilitin ang issue because it would somehow result in bugbugan, magpaluan and to think that our sin is just talagang mahirap lang tayo. Huwag na lang natin guluhin ‘yang mga tao diyan kasi lumalaban eh," he said.

"Huwag na lang kayong makipag-away, wala ring kwenta eh. Tapos ang pulis, kayo may baril and, you know, something could go awfully wrong,” Duterte said.

In return, the President promised to build another housing project for the displaced soldiers and policemen that would be better than the ones occupied by Kadamay which lacked electricity and running water as well as other amenities.

“I am asking you kung maaari lang. Do not be offended. Take it with an open mind. Ako na mismo, inyong Presidente, nakikiusap sa inyo. Let us not wage a fight against our own people," he said.

"Tutal mahirap lang ‘yan sila, intindihin na lang ninyo. And I will build another housing project for you soonest and I intend to complete it by December,” Duterte said.

He added that he had already asked the National Housing Authority (NHA) to look for a suitable land to build bigger and more comfortable housing units for the soldiers and policemen.

“But I promise you, I will look for another land nearby or adjacent or maybe contiguous to that area there and gagawa ako ng mas maganda. May tubig na at may electric na pagpasok ninyo. I have asked the National Housing Authority to look for a suitable land at papalitan ko na lang ‘yan on equal numbers,” Duterte said.

In the meantime, Duterte urged Kadamay not to forcefully dislodge the soldiers and policemen who are already in the occupied projects or he would be forced to evict the militant urban poor workers instead.

“Ngayon, ‘yung Kadamay, ibigay ko na lang ‘yan sa inyo. Huwag ninyong paalisin ‘yung mga sundalo pati pulis na nandiyan na. But eventually they will be removed and transferred to a new na mas maganda pa sa inyong inagaw,” he said.

“Iyong mga Kadamay nandiyan, huwag ninyong galawin ang mga sundalo pati pulis. Kasi ‘pag hindi, tuluyan paalisin ko kayong lahat. Do not create trouble, avoid chaos, and we will try to solve what ails this country,” Duterte said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=977499