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Duterte Vows To Move Soldiers, Police To Better Housing Project
President Rodrigo Duterte (RICHARD MADELO/Presidential Photo / Manila Bulletin)
April 5th, 2017 | 08:13 AM | 1412 views
MANILA
President Rodrigo Duterte has promised the soldiers and the police that he will move them to a better housing project by December.
This came after the authorities failed to evict the members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahirap (Kadamay) who occupied six housing units in Pandi, Bulacan supposedly for personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and for informal settlers in Metro Manila.
Duterte, in his speech during the 120th founding anniversary of the Philippine Army in Taguig, urged the soldiers and the police to just let go of the houses that was originally intended for them.
“I will look into the matter seriously and I will ask ‘yung (the) soldiers and the policeman, bitawan na lang ninyo ‘yan. Ibigay na lang natin sa kanila tutal mahirap lang sila,” Duterte said.
“But I promise you, I will look for another land nearby and gagawa ako ng mas maganda–may tubig na at may electricity na pagpasok niyo,” Duterte added, comparing it to how the said current disputed land is problematic.
Duterte, however, hopes that the soldiers and the police will take his plans with an open mind as he said the only sin of the members of the Kadamay is just they are poor.
“I’m asking you, kung maaari lang, do not be offended. Take it with an open mind. Ako na mismo nakikiusap sa inyo, let us not wage a fight against our own people,” he said.
Duterte said he has asked the National Housing Authority (NHA) to look for a suitable land nearby and he will try to finish the housing project there by December.
“I will build another housing project for you. [At the] soonest, I intend to build it by December. In the fullness of God’s time, maybe by December,” Duterte said.
“I am making you the commitment, and I guarantee, you will have your [houses]–mas maganda, walang problema (better and problem-free),” he added.
Duterte also assured the soldiers and the police that he will personally go to location of the new housing project to supervise and ensure the transfer be done by December.
“Magdasal lang tayong lahat that everything goes well,” he said.
About 24,000 Kadamay members have occupied around 5,740 vacant units in six project sites in Pandi since March 8. They have put up barricades in front of the said units to hold off the authorities who would reclaim the units
Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN
by Argyll Cyrus Geducos
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