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"It appears that the authorities want to shortcut processes in favor of landowners and do away with holding proper consultations, providing relocation areas, among others."
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers said that the case of John Griefen Arlegui and Reynaldo Viernes “underscores the dangerous trend of using fabricated criminal charges as a tool to suppress progressive political candidates and their supporters.”
Clarkhills Properties started its forced demolition in 2023. About 2,000 individuals live in the 73 hectares of land that the corporation is trying to seize.
“This decision affirms that the government has fundamental shortcomings in meeting the basic needs of citizens amid lockdowns."
“We are but ants to these businessmen, ants they can crush,” Tatay Ricky would later on tell me of their struggle for their homes. “The government should be focusing on us.”
At a time when Filipino families are being told to stay at home, urban poor families in Intramuros said they have not received any relocation program at all. Residents also lamented that the Manila police has been assisting the private company in carrying out the demolition.
With the Philippine government set to provide the next wave of aid for pandemic-hit Filipinos, residents of urban poor community Payatas in Quezon City said they received none since March.
Kadamay stated that the four were forced to sign a form “voluntarily waiving their rights under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code,” as well as having a “gag order” placed on them, preventing them from talking to anyone, including their families.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said that the raid is just ‘a preview’ of future abuses that can be done under the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020.
“Basta aksyon, Bad yon” tawa naming lahat. Siguro nga, kung si Ka Bea, bilang chairperson ang ‘nanay’ ng organisasyon, si Ka Inday iyung tita mong makulit, si Karlets naman ang inabutan kong tito na ‘bad boy’ ng kilusan ng maralitang lungsod. Hindi dahil pasaway siya o mahirap pakisamahan, pero dahil may taglay lang siyang swabeng angas na maganda kasama mapakwentuhan, sa init ng pagtuligsa sa bulok na gobyerno, at syempre sa pagharap sa masa.
"Badion championed the cause of the homeless and the informally settled. He was instrumental in Kadamay's housing occupation campaigns and community barricades against demolition."
Letter to the Editor April 4, 2020 Much as we thank our friends in the media for highlighting the reality of uncertainty, some suggestions should be made in reporting the plight of the urban poor amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Feel-good stories that highlight...
"The people are getting hungry. The answer to their fervent wish is simple. And yet they were violently dispersed and arrested all because this gathering is prohibited?"
“They have long been trying to divide our ranks and our unity in our struggle. They (pro-government forces) have been convincing our members to leave Kadamay."
Kadamay called for a dialogue with Domagoso and the vendors association in the city.
The occupants decried the government’s prioritization of commercial and business ventures instead of housing projects for the poor despite ongoing negotiations between the agencies and the community.
Urban poor group Kadamay led the "Kalbaryo ng Mamamayan" to highlight the plight of Filipinos on Friday, April 12. In this year's kalbaryo, five stations were set up to discuss the struggles of urban poor families facing eviction threats, issues of sovereignty,...
“In truth, all of this panic mongering and “red scare” angling is being spurred by the authorities to justify increased repressive measures taken against critics of the government.”
"They will judge us. They'll say, 'there goes the Kadamay again! Always rallying!' We can't do anything; we need to fight."
Kadamay does not cower in fear amid Duterte's threats.
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