Landlady removes roof, door of pregnant woman’s home for non-payment of rent

A landlady in Caloocan City ordered the removal of a home's roof and doors because the pregnant tenant had been unable to pay rent for two months amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a 24 Oras Weekend report by Victoria Tulad on Sunday, the tenant's personal items were damaged by rain as a result of the roof's removal.

“Ang sabi ko, nasa TV naman po ‘yan na ‘wag munang mag-puwersa maningil lalo na’t ganito nga ang sitwasyon,” the victim’s neighbor said.

“Pinuntahan ‘yung may-ari… ang sabi niya, pasalamat daw ‘yung tinanggalan ng bubong na kinausap siya ng kakilala niya kaya niya ibinalik,” she added.

Another family nearly had their roof and doors removed by the same landlady after failing to pay two months’ worth of rent.

“‘Yung sa ayuda raw ng DSWD, bakit daw nakatanggap naman po kami, ba’t hindi raw po kami magbayad? Bakit ko naman po uunahin ‘yung bayad po ng upa? Uunahin muna namin ‘yung pambayad ng pagkain,” tenant Glenda Malvas said.

“Masakit po ‘yun. Minumura ako no’ng may-ari ng bahay. Masakit po ‘yun. Kasalanan ba naming nag-krisis?”

Landlady Tessie Banico of Barangay 167 said she needed the money after her husband got into an accident.

“Ako po ay gumagastos ng kulang-kulang P10,000… ‘Yung mister ko kasi, no’ng malasing, nabagok ang ulo. In-ICU,” she said.

Banico said she had the roof and door put back when she saw the downpour.

“Pero no’ng umulan no’ng araw na ‘yon, nakita ko umulan, naramdaman ko ‘yung konsensiya,” she said.

Barangay 167 chairman Antonio Reyes reminded Banico and other landlords that President Rodrigo Duterte had already warned them not to evict tenants for being unable to pay rent.

The Department of Trade and Industry likewise said violators of this rule may be jailed or fined.  — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News