AFP: No problem in Duterte move to give Bulacan homes to Kadamay
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AFP: No problem in Duterte move to give Bulacan homes to Kadamay
Chiara Zambrano,
ABS-CBN News
Published Apr 05, 2017 09:09 PM PHT

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) finds no problem in President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to surrender houses for the military and police in Pandi, Bulacan to the militant Kadamay group, whose members have occupied the units.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) finds no problem in President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to surrender houses for the military and police in Pandi, Bulacan to the militant Kadamay group, whose members have occupied the units.
Members of Kadamay, a left-leaning urban poor group, forcibly occupied a compound of low-cost houses in Pandi as they underscored the lack of proper housing for the country's poor.
Members of Kadamay, a left-leaning urban poor group, forcibly occupied a compound of low-cost houses in Pandi as they underscored the lack of proper housing for the country's poor.
"Wala naman pong problema sa Armed Forces yung pagsalin nito at yung ginagawang hakbang ng ating mahal na Pangulo, para hindi na maging magulo (The AFP has no problem with handing this over and with the President's action to avoid conflict)," said AFP spokesperson Restituto Padilla.
"Wala naman pong problema sa Armed Forces yung pagsalin nito at yung ginagawang hakbang ng ating mahal na Pangulo, para hindi na maging magulo (The AFP has no problem with handing this over and with the President's action to avoid conflict)," said AFP spokesperson Restituto Padilla.
"Nagbigay naman sila ng anunsyo na kung sino man yung magiging awardees ng mga apektadong units na ito ay papalitan (They made an announcement that awardees of the affected units will get a replacement), he said.
"Nagbigay naman sila ng anunsyo na kung sino man yung magiging awardees ng mga apektadong units na ito ay papalitan (They made an announcement that awardees of the affected units will get a replacement), he said.
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Speaking at the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Army on Tuesday, Duterte instructed the military to give these houses away to prevent violence, saying members of the Kadamay are poor anyway.
Speaking at the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Army on Tuesday, Duterte instructed the military to give these houses away to prevent violence, saying members of the Kadamay are poor anyway.
Duterte then committed to build bigger and better units for those who lost their houses, hopefully by December.
Duterte then committed to build bigger and better units for those who lost their houses, hopefully by December.
Government had allocated 675 22-sqm housing units for soldiers at the Pandi project, each at a cost of P175,000, payable in 15 years.
Government had allocated 675 22-sqm housing units for soldiers at the Pandi project, each at a cost of P175,000, payable in 15 years.
Padilla said there have been no complaints from recipient police and military officers, noting that the units were too small for families. The project also lacks basic utilities such as electricity and water.
Padilla said there have been no complaints from recipient police and military officers, noting that the units were too small for families. The project also lacks basic utilities such as electricity and water.
He said there have been requests for units in the promised new housing project to be redesigned for family use, or to allow recipients to purchase two units for a bigger space.
He said there have been requests for units in the promised new housing project to be redesigned for family use, or to allow recipients to purchase two units for a bigger space.
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"Kung silang dalawang mag-asawa pa lang ang natira, okay lang po yung espasyo ng unit. Pero pag nagkaanak na po at lumaki, ang iniisip po nila ay mahihirapan na sila sa maliit na espasyo kaya kailangan nilang palakihin ito (If it's only for a couple, then the space is OK. But when they start having children, what they're thinking about is that they will have a hard time living in such space, so there is a need to make it bigger)," Padilla said.
"Kung silang dalawang mag-asawa pa lang ang natira, okay lang po yung espasyo ng unit. Pero pag nagkaanak na po at lumaki, ang iniisip po nila ay mahihirapan na sila sa maliit na espasyo kaya kailangan nilang palakihin ito (If it's only for a couple, then the space is OK. But when they start having children, what they're thinking about is that they will have a hard time living in such space, so there is a need to make it bigger)," Padilla said.
Such a small space might prove detrimental to a family's quality of life, he added.
Such a small space might prove detrimental to a family's quality of life, he added.
Padilla conceded that the Kadamay occupation has revived much-needed discussions on housing problems in the Philippines.
Padilla conceded that the Kadamay occupation has revived much-needed discussions on housing problems in the Philippines.
But this does not excuse Kadamay's illegal act, he said.
But this does not excuse Kadamay's illegal act, he said.
"Any move against established laws is always not a good move. May epekto rin po to. Kaya po ang paghihimok ng ating pamahalaan ay okay, para walang gulo, pagbibigyan, pero hindi pa po dapat ito nauulit (This also has an effect. That's why while the government has decided to accommodate them to prevent violence, this should not happen again)," he said.
"Any move against established laws is always not a good move. May epekto rin po to. Kaya po ang paghihimok ng ating pamahalaan ay okay, para walang gulo, pagbibigyan, pero hindi pa po dapat ito nauulit (This also has an effect. That's why while the government has decided to accommodate them to prevent violence, this should not happen again)," he said.
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"There is a rule of law that we should follow, so that things are in order. Kung hindi, magkakagulo talaga (Otherwise, there will be chaos). Pero (But) it may have just opened up and made public the discourse regarding the lack of housing. So on that account, maaaring doon sila nakapag-contribute (maybe that's where they (Kadamay) was able to contribute," Padilla said.
"There is a rule of law that we should follow, so that things are in order. Kung hindi, magkakagulo talaga (Otherwise, there will be chaos). Pero (But) it may have just opened up and made public the discourse regarding the lack of housing. So on that account, maaaring doon sila nakapag-contribute (maybe that's where they (Kadamay) was able to contribute," Padilla said.
The official said the controversy yielded results both good and bad.
The official said the controversy yielded results both good and bad.
"The whole episode, as I was saying, is both good and bad. Good in the sense that the discourse on housing was opened up again, and that it's being expedited by agencies concerned. Bad in the sense that it's setting a precedent that may signal a bad start for others who are interested to foment more kinds of.. similar activities."
"The whole episode, as I was saying, is both good and bad. Good in the sense that the discourse on housing was opened up again, and that it's being expedited by agencies concerned. Bad in the sense that it's setting a precedent that may signal a bad start for others who are interested to foment more kinds of.. similar activities."
In the end, Padilla said, it will prove beneficial to government to provide the needs of left-leaning groups, because it could then give them less reason to create trouble for security forces.
In the end, Padilla said, it will prove beneficial to government to provide the needs of left-leaning groups, because it could then give them less reason to create trouble for security forces.
"Madami nagsasabi, miyembro sila ng kaliwa or whatever, miyembro sila ng mga front organization. Wala ho kaming pakialam. Pilipino pa rin naman sila (Many are saying that they are memberse of the left or whatever, that they are members of a front organization. We don't care. They are still Filipinos)," said Padilla.
"Madami nagsasabi, miyembro sila ng kaliwa or whatever, miyembro sila ng mga front organization. Wala ho kaming pakialam. Pilipino pa rin naman sila (Many are saying that they are memberse of the left or whatever, that they are members of a front organization. We don't care. They are still Filipinos)," said Padilla.
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"Ang sinasabi lang natin, kung may isang Pilipino na may pangangailangan sa bahay at natutugunan natin ito, tapos sa susunod na taon ay lahat mabigyan na ng pabahay, 'di mas mainam at mas magiging tahimik tayo. Imbes na sila ay nakatira sa bundok, mas mainam na nakatira na sila sa Pandi, Bulacan, at makihalo na sila sa ating mainstream. Hindi tayo ngayon pumapasok sa isang armadong pakikibaka, na siyang nakakagulo sa ating bayan (What we're saying is, if one Filipino's need for a home is addressed, then the following year everyone is given housing, this is better and we will be more peaceful. Instead of having them live in the mountains, it's better that they live in Pandi, Bulacan, and be part of the mainstream. We are not going into an armed conflict now, because this only causes chaos in our country)," he said.
"Ang sinasabi lang natin, kung may isang Pilipino na may pangangailangan sa bahay at natutugunan natin ito, tapos sa susunod na taon ay lahat mabigyan na ng pabahay, 'di mas mainam at mas magiging tahimik tayo. Imbes na sila ay nakatira sa bundok, mas mainam na nakatira na sila sa Pandi, Bulacan, at makihalo na sila sa ating mainstream. Hindi tayo ngayon pumapasok sa isang armadong pakikibaka, na siyang nakakagulo sa ating bayan (What we're saying is, if one Filipino's need for a home is addressed, then the following year everyone is given housing, this is better and we will be more peaceful. Instead of having them live in the mountains, it's better that they live in Pandi, Bulacan, and be part of the mainstream. We are not going into an armed conflict now, because this only causes chaos in our country)," he said.
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