Noli won't apologize to urban poor group that interrupted speech

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Noli de Castro will not apologize to the members of Kalipunang Damayan ng Mahihirap (Kadamay), the urban poor group that interrupted his speech in Los Baños, Laguna on Thursday.

“Why should I say sorry? They should be the one because they insulted me. They could easily have talked to me,” De Castro said in Filipino on his weekly radio program “Para sa Iyo Bayan.”

On Thursday, De Castro, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman, distributed certificates of lot allocation (CELAs) to beneficiaries of Proclamations 48 and 550 in Los Baños, which converted idle properties of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) and portions of Camp El Ridge Military Reservation to residential lots.

The event was also part of the 394th foundation anniversary of the town of Los Baños.

In the middle of his speech, De Castro was interrupted by the protesters from Kadamay who called government programs like the South Rail project “anti-poor” because of the relocation of squatter families. 

“I drove two and a half hours to go to Los Baños then they insult me. It’s not because I’m the Vice President, but I’m a man with the right to get angry,” he added.

In his speech, De Castro said it was important for him to continue the reforms he initiated in the national housing program.

He also said he would rather attend to the needs of the homeless than engage in early jockeying for the 2010 elections.

“I’m not like other politicians who give empty promises,” he said in Filipino.

De Castro said some poor beneficiaries are abusing the government housing program by failing to pay their loans.

“As long as I’m in government, or even if I’m out of government, those who abuse government programs will not get away with it,” De Castro said.