President Rodrigo Duterte urged the apartment owners and landlords to stop collecting renting fees to their tenants amid the enhanced community quarantine, telling them that everyone was affected by the crisis.
During his televised address, Duterte explained that landlords cannot force their tenants to pay as they’re jobless and saving their remaining amount of money until the end of the community quarantine.
“Huwag mo muna hingin kasi wala talaga. Whatever na ang nasa kamay ng mga tao ngayon, they are saving it for the rainy days to come.” Duterte said.
Duterte also encouraged the tenants not to let their landlords evict them if they insisted to collect renting fees amid the community quarantine.
“Kung magsabi na i-evict mo ang tao ngayon sa bahay, sabihin ko talaga sayo ‘wag mo sundin ‘yan. Ako nag wa-warning lang ako, pipilitin niyo na hindi makabayad,” the President stated.
“Ngayon kung sundin mo lahat ng batas para makapabor ka under the law, but itong panahon ng COVID at gawin mo ‘yan, magsasalubong tayo. I-evict mo ‘yang tao, personal kong puntahan sabihin ko ibalik mo ‘yang tao, wag mong itapon diyan sa daan,” he added.
He warned them not to force evict their tenants or else he might do something to them that against the law.
“Kung hindi mo naman pala gustong tumulong sa kapwa tao mo, sunugin na lang natin ‘yang mga apartment mo, tutal may bumbero, ‘Wag ganun. ‘Wag ninyong i-pressure. Ayoko magsalita ng ganitong parang holdupper,” Duterte said.
“Wag mong pilitin ang tao, walang pilitan kasi talagang mag-e-enkwentro tayo, hindi ako talaga ako papayag, wag ninyo akong pilitin to go against the law,” he added.
Duterte doesn’t care even if the landlords believe that it’s still their ‘right’ to collect rents amid the community quarantine.
“Do not pressure a poor person just because you have this right. It is not the time for you to pressure other people just because of your right. Sinasabi ko sa inyo mag-e-enkwentro tayo sigurado yan. Itaga niyo sa bato,” he said.
He also said that he would order the police not to cooperate with the landlords if ever they asked for their help to evict their tenants.
Duterte made the said remarks after he received complaints from some netizen that they’re being forced by their landlords to pay their rent despite not earning money because of the community quarantine.