Kadamay thwarted in bid to invade AFP-PNP housing site

Security has been heightened at the housing complex primarily for officers and men of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Rodriguez, Rizal, after members of the militant informal settlers’ group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay staged a protest rally on Tuesday in an attempt to occupy the said facility.

Kadamay members, who said the government failed to address their need for decent housing, occupied vacant units in government housing projects in Bulacan last week.

Philippine Army 1st Lt Xy-zon Meneses, chief of the 2nd Infantry Division’s Public Affairs Office, said the protest rally in Rizal started at about 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Supt. Hector Grijaldo, Jr., Rodriguez, Rizal police chief, told the Manila Bulletin that the homeowners of La Solidaridad Village in Barangay San Isidro, were bent on securing the housing complex from intruders, particularly members of Kadamay.

Girjaldo said some Kadamay members even tried to make their way to the complex through a dried-up creek but found the permiter wall to steep.

Lt. Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, the Commanding Officer of the 80th Infantry Battalion, said troops were already dispatched to the area to support the Philippine National Police and help keep Kadamay members at bay.

“So far, no illegal occupation by Kadamay has occured and the local PNP supported by 80IB is in control of the situation,” Cabangbang said.

The village has 1,900 housing units, all of which have already been awarded to intended beneficiaries, who are all government workers.

Less than 500 units, however, are currently occupied by its rightful owners according to information gathered by the police from the National Housing Authority, whose representative was present at the site during a dialogue with homeowners the other day.