MALABON CITY —- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, April 2, announced that he would start carrying out urban land reform in Metro Manila, particularly in Malabon City, to give permanent settlements to the city’s informal settlers.
“Dito na naman ako sa urban land reform. Pinakamatindi dito sa Maynila. Ngayon, kung may mahanap kayo na lupa na medyo malaki at wala pang development, sabihin ninyo sa akin. Kasi i-expropriate ko ‘yan, pilit bilihin ko ‘yan sa may-ari at gagawa tayo ng ating mga bahay,” the President said during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally.
There will be 500 housing units soon to be released to Malabon City residents.
The Chief Executive commended the city’s Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval who’s been contacting him in order to address the city’s need.
“Si Jeannie…ito lang ‘yung may access sa akin. Pupunta sa akin doon, sinasabi niya ‘yung problema niya,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President warned the incumbent mayor of Malabon, Antolin “Len Len” Oreta III, that he would face arrest if he fails to solve the drug problem in the city.
“Mayor, linisin mo ang Malabon mo. Bigyan kita ng isang buwan, ” he said
“Sabihin ko kay [Congressman] Ricky [Sandoval], ‘Sorry na lang ha. Pahuli ko mayor niyo. Itapon na lang sa Manila Bay,'” he continued.
Malabon City Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval is currently running against Oreta in the mayoralty race. She and her husband, Rep. Ricky Sandoval, are both running under the President’s party, the PDP-Laban.
Peace and order are also a major concern in Malabon as the city is infested with armed goons.
“Huwag kayong magkamali diyan maggamit ng mga goons…mga ganon…kasi papadalhan ko kayo dito ng isang batalyon na army, totoo lang. I will order the Armed Forces to go sa Malabon and hulihin lahat ‘yung mga may armas,” he said.
In his administration’s fight against corruption, President Duterte cited that as far as the executive department is concerned, there is less or no corruption under his watch. The real concern is at the local level.
“Iyan, corruption. Pinakamatindi corruption sa mababa. Wala na kayong problema dito sa taas, sa Executive department, ‘yung mga Gabinete. Sundan lang ninyo ako para malaman ninyo na talagang ‘yang corruption, hintuin ko ‘yan,” the President stated.
“Ngayon, kung sabihin mo, ma-control ko ba ang corruption sa lahat, ito sasabihin ko sa’yo: ang Pilipinas is corrupt to the core. Ibang-ibang mesa ‘yan diyan sa city hall o kaya nasa national. Pagka dumaan ‘yang papel diyan, pera ‘yan. Eh ilang mesa ‘yan? Business permit…,” he added.
However, the President admitted he doesn’t have much control over elected local officials since his role is supervisory. He then advised the people to vote wisely, be assertive, and to not allow themselves to be victimized by abusive government officials.###PND
