Duterte tells Cebu mayors: Give squatters lots
CEBU, Philippines — President Duterte has encouraged mayors in Cebu to distribute vacant lands to their constituents to address the squatting problem in their respective areas.
Duterte recalled the time when Visayans who arrived in Davao City ended up squatting because there were few lands left to own.
"I’m the first Bisaya-speaking, Mindanaoan President. It’s the same case with Davao City mayors. Out of four, five mayors, not one of them spoke Bisaya. But it’s because of the land ownership," the President said during a campaign rally of the PDP-Laban in Cebu on March 31.
"Of course, back then, when the Visayans arrived, there were few lands left to own so they ended up being squatters. They would just be told, 'No vote, ibot!' If you don’t vote, they’ll uproot you," he added.
Duterte said he expropriated lands and distributed it to the people when he was mayor of the southern city.
"So all those years that they owned the lands, they really controlled everything... You have vast lands and yet there’s a squatter problem. So I expropriated Sta. Ana and gave it to the people," Duterte, who was mayor of Davao City for more than 22 years, said.
"So you mayors here, if your city is becoming too congested and there are vacant lands there, expropriate it and give it to the people," he added.
Duterte thanked the residents of Cebu for helping him win the 2016 presidential race and reminded them that "public interest and public service go together."
"So in two months, I won’t be President anymore. But I’ll promise you this and this is also what I tell the people of Davao that I will remain your servant. So if you think there’s a problem that can be resolved through dialogue, call me and I will do it for you," the President said.
The vote-rich province of Cebu delivered more than one million votes to Duterte in 2016. Last Thursday's campaign rally marked the first time the 77-year-old President joined a campaign sortie for this year's elections. – Philippine Star News Service, JMO (FREEMAN)
- Latest
