NHA studying legal action vs. Kadamay members renting out housing units

The National Housing Authority (NHA) is still studying what legal actions it could take against Kadamay members who will be proven to be renting out the housing units they have occupied in Pandi, Bulacan.

"We are still studying, we asked our legal department to study that matter because this is not an isolated case," NHA chief of staff Christopher Mahamud said in a press conference on Monday when asked if the agency will file a case against Kadamay.

"So titingnan pa natin because there are other reports coming in... gaya ng sinasabi namin, we have to validate all these reports."

NHA said they are still validating 667 government housing units which were reportedly being rented out by some of the members of Kadamay, or the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, an urban poor group.

"We have to continue with the validation kung sinong dapat nandon at sinong hindi at kung ma-clarify kung sinong hindi, we really have to use the full force of law para mapaalis sila," Mahamud said.

Around 71 families out of the 8,494 Kadamay members staying in Pandi were also reported to be double recipient of government housing units, according to Engr. Romuel Alimboyao, NHA Department Manager A for Central Luzon.

NHA spokesperson Elsie Trinidad, however, clarified that they could not immediately evict Kadamay members proven to be renting our their housing units since it has to go through a process.

Article IV, Section 14 of the Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 states that, "No land for socialized housing, including improvements or rights thereon, shall be sold, alienated, conveyed, encumbered or leased by any beneficiaries as determined by the government agency concerned."

"Should the beneficiary unlawfully sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of his lot or any right thereon, the transaction shall be null and void. He shall also lose his right to the land, forfeit the total amortization paid thereon, and shall be barred from the benefits under this Act for a period of ten years from the date of violation," it added.

Kadamay member Jerry Lavado earlier denied allegations that he tried to sell a housing unit in Pandi, saying that he only helped to pawn the unit as his neighbor needs money for the hospitalization of his child.

NHA has claimed that they have obtained a video evidence from the supposed buyer of the housing unit showing how Lavado allegedly tried to sell the housing unit.

In March last year, Kadamay members occupied what they described as "idle" government housing units meant for soldiers and police in Bulacan.

President Rodrigo Duterte then ordered security forces just give the housing project to the members of the militant group.

Meanwhile, Mahamud said the number of Kadamay members occupying the said housing units ballooned from around 5,000 to 8,494 after Duterte's pronouncement.

"Whatever the reason is, we just give them the benefit of the doubt amidst all the reports na dumating sa amin na may mga bentahan ng membership, that if you have the ID, you are entitled to certain lot, certain housing. We did not really [use] that against them until lumabas itong video na binigay sa amin that indeed may bentahan," he said.

"Kami naman in good faith, we rely on their word na after nung negotiation namin hindi na magi-increase 'yung number of beneficiaries doon," Mahamud added. —KBK, GMA News