Kadamay claims only 20 — not 300 — members bolted the group

Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) on Friday belied reports that 300 of its members have bolted the group, saying it lost only 20 members due to a "small organizational matter" involving a frustrated former leader.

In a statement, Kadamay blamed the split to one Jeffrey Aris, an "expelled" local leader who "raised serious allegations against Kadamay mainly concerning the handling of its members in the occupied members."

"Ironically, he has been the perpetrator of the very things he has accused the organization of," the group said. "Aris was one of the local leaders in Pandi, though he was expelled from Kadamay some time ago."

It alleged that Aris' "frustration with the entire process of gaining entry passes for the occupied areas" has prompted him to "conspire" with the National Housing Authority (NHA) to "discredit" Kadamay.

Still, Kadamay said Aris' accusations have failed to convince "tens of thousands" of its members in Pandi, Bulacan, to leave the group.

"All in all this is still a small organizational matter. If these accusations were really as harmful and widespread as he claims then why haven’t the tens of thousands of members of Kadamay in Pandi and nationwide already jumped ship?" it said.

"At its core, the around 20 members (not 300 as erroneously reported) who have joined Aris in slandering Kadamay, still represent the dissatisfaction with the current housing schemes that Kadamay is pushing to change," it added.

According to a GMA News exclusive report, the Kadamay members who broke away claimed they have had enough of being forced to join protest actions which were mostly aimed at President Rodrigo Duterte.

The former members also said Kadamay had turned them into milking cows, claiming the shelling out money for what they call as "lakbayin" or rally was not voluntary. They said the group would threaten and harass them if they will not contribute money.

Kadamay maintained its stance for a "decent, affordable and public mass housing for all homeless Filipinos."

"Kadamay will maintain its thrust in fighting for the rights and welfare of all urban poor Filipinos; this includes calling for the utilization of all idle homes for homeless citizens everywhere and a genuinely pro-poor housing framework," it said. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News