Gov’t should address homelessness

According to Kadamay, it is “criminal” to let idle houses rot away while our country has the most number of homeless in Asia. Consequently, it advocates and presses on the government for the redistribution of houses, which are originally allocated and awarded to our armed and police forces, in favor of its members.

In addition, Kadamay wants all houses, which were obtained by force from original homeowners, to be registered under its members’ names. Hence, its members rally to Malacañang to seek help and assistance for this purpose.

Can someone tell me where on earth do these people get the oozing confidence to seek the assistance of Malacañang to have their unlawfully taken property titled in their favor?

Indeed, we are in a post- modern age when wrongdoers and usurpers are bolder and more arrogant than ever!

Homelessness is definitely a compelling matter our government should address. I believe that every Filipino deserves to have something they can call their “humble abode.” But to forcibly enter and usurp a property and deprive the occupants thereof of their lawful possession is a different story. Such
an act is tantamount to unlawful taking, which is punishable under the law and must not
be condoned.

As an ordinary Filipino citizen who, together with my wife, had to work more than 40 hours per week just to be able to pay completely the full price of our family home on loan, I think it is unfair to give these Kadamay members special treatment. Our government must also hold them accountable for the various incidents of forcible entry and usurpation of somebody else’s property, which are continuously being done by them even up to this date.

To tolerate these opportunists is to put insult upon all hardworking Filipinos who make sacrifices just to build decent and adequate lives in a just and lawful manner. To allow the members of Kadamay to escape their wrongdoings with impunity on the premise of “homelessness”—a term they have obviously abused—is to give the impression that it is “perfectly fine” to steal somebody else’s property or house.

If the government will be more inclined to favor these sloths, then the rest of us might as well go out, stop paying our housing obligations, and just grab whatever house or real property there is that we like.

ROMEO MACASIEB, romeomacasieb@outlook.com