PA to comply with President Duterte's call to let go of Bulacan housing units

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 5): PA to comply with President Duterte's call to let go of Bulacan housing units

The Philippine Army (PA) will adhere to President Rodrigo Duterte's appeal calling for soldiers to give up their housing units in Bulacan which were forcibly occupied by members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) since last month.

"We will adhere to the President's appeal. We will talk to our troops and explain to them the position of our President," Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said Tuesday afternoon.

"We are also happy and excited to hear his plans to give our troops better housing facilities," he added.

The Chief Executive earlier said he decided to allow the members of the urban poor group to remain the Bulacan housing facility to avoid possible bloodshed between the militants and security forces who will be deployed to evict them.

“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," President Duterte stressed.

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

In the meantime, the President 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.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=977542