Duterte warns landlords not to evict tenants who cannot pay house rent
Published Apr 9, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
No one should be evicted for failure to pay house rent during the quarantine period.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with some members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 8, 2020. (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
President Duterte has threatened to burn down the apartments of landlords if they pressure tenants to pay rent or worse, evict them from their homes, during the enhanced community quarantine implemented by the government to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
The President asked the landlords to instead defer rent collection to ease the burden of tenants struggling to make ends meet while the coronavirus-related lockdown is in effect.
"Alam mo, lahat tayo nawalaan ng income. So I’d like to ask the owners na kung maaari, ‘yung sa lote, to suspend --- ‘yung sa bahay huwag mo munang hingiin kasi wala talaga o kaya naghihirap ngayon. And whatever na ang nasa kamay ng mga tao ngayon, they are saving it for the last day, the rainy days to come (You know, we've all lost our income so I’d like to ask the lot owners to suspend the house rents. Don’t ask for something because they have nothing. And whatever the people have now they are saving it for the rainy days to come,” Duterte said in his taped public address early Thursday morning.
"Do not pressure anybody or a poor person just because you have this right. It is not the time for you to pressure other people because of your right. Sabihin ko sa'yo ulit, mag-e-engkwentro tayo. Sigurado 'yan. Itaga ninyo sa bato 'yan. Hindi ako papayag. (I am telling you that we will clash. That's certain. Mark my word),” Duterte said.
"Huwag mong itapon 'yan sa daan kasi tayo ang mag-e-engkwentro. Kung hindi mo naman pala gustong tumulong ng kapwa tao mo, sunugin na lang natin 'yang mga apartments mo. Tutal may bumbero. Tawagin mo. Eh huwag ganun. Huwag ninyong i-pressure (Don't throw him in the streets because we will clash. If don't want to help your fellowman, we might as well burn down your apartments. Besides, there are firemen you can all them. But don't be like that. Don’t pressure them into paying),” he added.
The President issued the warning after he received reports some landlords have "pressured" tenants to pay their rent although they lack money because they could not work.
Duterte urged landlords and lessors to consider the welfare of their tenants and suspend the payment of rent while the quarantine measures are in effect.
The President has vowed to intervene and prevent landlords from evicting tenants even if they go to court for relief. Duterte said he has a duty to protect and preserve the nation amid the latest public health emergency.
If the landlords take legal action to defend the eviction, Duterte said he will tell the public not believe the courts.
"Hindi makakatulong 'yan. Hindi sana gusto ko ng anarchy. Pero (That will not help. I don't want anarchy but) at this time, makialam ako sa lahat ng opisina (I will interfere in all offices). It's because it is my duty to preserve the nation. And the only way I can do it is really to impose order," he said.
Duterte said he would personally tell the landlord to allow the tenant to stay in the house amid difficulties in paying rent. He asked if they were ready "to confront the violence that will be created" or just follow his order "for the common good."
"Alam mo, may panahon ‘yung mga lessors nag --- nagpapa… Do not tempt the gods. Kasi pagka hindi ito naayos, ang COVID, mapurnada talaga tayong lahat. Huwag ninyong madaliin (You know the lessors, do not tempt the gods because if COVID is not resolved, we will all fall. Do not rush the payment)," he said.
"Kaya maghintay kayo lessors, nagpaparenta, huwag ninyong madaliin kasi baka wala na tayo o wala ka na na mag-kolekta (The lessors should wait. Do not rush because we might be gone or you won't collect anything). You are not even --- you will not be even sure if you'd still be around to collect the money," he said.
The Department of Trade and Industry recently issued a memorandum directing a 30-day grace period for the payment of residential or commercial rents paid by small businesses without interest or penalties. Lessors who fail to observe the grace period may face imprisonment and/or fine of at least P10,000.
The grace period covers 30 days from the rent due date within the community quarantine.
Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act authorizes the President to provide a 30-day grace period on residential rents falling due within the quarantine period without penalties.
The President also has the authority direct all public and private banks and similar financing institutions to implement a minimum of 30-day grace period for the payment of loans, credit car payments without interests and penalties.
Another presidential power is to move statutory deadlines for the filing and submission of document, payment of taxes, fees and other charges to help people living under community quarantine.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with some members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 8, 2020. (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
President Duterte has threatened to burn down the apartments of landlords if they pressure tenants to pay rent or worse, evict them from their homes, during the enhanced community quarantine implemented by the government to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
The President asked the landlords to instead defer rent collection to ease the burden of tenants struggling to make ends meet while the coronavirus-related lockdown is in effect.
"Alam mo, lahat tayo nawalaan ng income. So I’d like to ask the owners na kung maaari, ‘yung sa lote, to suspend --- ‘yung sa bahay huwag mo munang hingiin kasi wala talaga o kaya naghihirap ngayon. And whatever na ang nasa kamay ng mga tao ngayon, they are saving it for the last day, the rainy days to come (You know, we've all lost our income so I’d like to ask the lot owners to suspend the house rents. Don’t ask for something because they have nothing. And whatever the people have now they are saving it for the rainy days to come,” Duterte said in his taped public address early Thursday morning.
"Do not pressure anybody or a poor person just because you have this right. It is not the time for you to pressure other people because of your right. Sabihin ko sa'yo ulit, mag-e-engkwentro tayo. Sigurado 'yan. Itaga ninyo sa bato 'yan. Hindi ako papayag. (I am telling you that we will clash. That's certain. Mark my word),” Duterte said.
"Huwag mong itapon 'yan sa daan kasi tayo ang mag-e-engkwentro. Kung hindi mo naman pala gustong tumulong ng kapwa tao mo, sunugin na lang natin 'yang mga apartments mo. Tutal may bumbero. Tawagin mo. Eh huwag ganun. Huwag ninyong i-pressure (Don't throw him in the streets because we will clash. If don't want to help your fellowman, we might as well burn down your apartments. Besides, there are firemen you can all them. But don't be like that. Don’t pressure them into paying),” he added.
The President issued the warning after he received reports some landlords have "pressured" tenants to pay their rent although they lack money because they could not work.
Duterte urged landlords and lessors to consider the welfare of their tenants and suspend the payment of rent while the quarantine measures are in effect.
The President has vowed to intervene and prevent landlords from evicting tenants even if they go to court for relief. Duterte said he has a duty to protect and preserve the nation amid the latest public health emergency.
If the landlords take legal action to defend the eviction, Duterte said he will tell the public not believe the courts.
"Hindi makakatulong 'yan. Hindi sana gusto ko ng anarchy. Pero (That will not help. I don't want anarchy but) at this time, makialam ako sa lahat ng opisina (I will interfere in all offices). It's because it is my duty to preserve the nation. And the only way I can do it is really to impose order," he said.
Duterte said he would personally tell the landlord to allow the tenant to stay in the house amid difficulties in paying rent. He asked if they were ready "to confront the violence that will be created" or just follow his order "for the common good."
"Alam mo, may panahon ‘yung mga lessors nag --- nagpapa… Do not tempt the gods. Kasi pagka hindi ito naayos, ang COVID, mapurnada talaga tayong lahat. Huwag ninyong madaliin (You know the lessors, do not tempt the gods because if COVID is not resolved, we will all fall. Do not rush the payment)," he said.
"Kaya maghintay kayo lessors, nagpaparenta, huwag ninyong madaliin kasi baka wala na tayo o wala ka na na mag-kolekta (The lessors should wait. Do not rush because we might be gone or you won't collect anything). You are not even --- you will not be even sure if you'd still be around to collect the money," he said.
The Department of Trade and Industry recently issued a memorandum directing a 30-day grace period for the payment of residential or commercial rents paid by small businesses without interest or penalties. Lessors who fail to observe the grace period may face imprisonment and/or fine of at least P10,000.
The grace period covers 30 days from the rent due date within the community quarantine.
Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act authorizes the President to provide a 30-day grace period on residential rents falling due within the quarantine period without penalties.
The President also has the authority direct all public and private banks and similar financing institutions to implement a minimum of 30-day grace period for the payment of loans, credit car payments without interests and penalties.
Another presidential power is to move statutory deadlines for the filing and submission of document, payment of taxes, fees and other charges to help people living under community quarantine.