MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said he will not hesitate to use lethal force should the urban poor group Kadamay refuse to vacate the housing units intended for soldiers and policemen in Rodriguez, Rizal.
In a speech on Thursday night in Laguna, Duterte gave Kadamay members until 12 p.m. on Friday to leave the housing units or he will deploy anti-riot policemen and members of the Special Action Force to disperse them there.
“Umalis kayo by 12 [p.m. on Friday]. ‘Pag hindi sabihin ko ang pulis with the riot back upan ang SAF. Magkamali kayo maggamit ng armas. Kung mamatay kayo, ‘yun ang dapat,” Duterte said.
Kadamay members have already left the La Solidaridad-Avilon Zoo housing project in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez town, said Kadamay national chairman Gloria Arellano on Friday morning.
On Wednesday, around 500 members of Kadamay – mostly female – have attempted to occupy the idle housing units but they were easily thwarted away by the police force.
It was not the first time that the group has attempted to occupy housing projects. They have also tried to occupy idle houses in Pandi, Bulacan last year./PN
