MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to redistribute the property of oligarchs who had allegedly occupied government land without paying proper taxes was a warning that he intends to clamp down on the practice, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Clarifying Duterte's statements in Davao City on Monday, Presidential Spokersperson Ernesto Abella said the President's words were meant to stress “the seriousness of the matter that the property, government property needs to be returned.”

“It is a warning, yes," Abella told a press briefing.

Asked if the remarks should be taken as policy, Abella said: “He will take certain steps. I don’t mean this is the exact step. But he will take certain steps to make sure that the erring parties will respond properly."

During his first Labor Day speech, Duterte had warned the country’s so-called oligarchs who do not pay proper taxes that he would hand over their land to others.

To the cheers of the crowd in Davao City, the President said he might order the country’s poor to take over certain privately-owned properties in real property hubs such as Makati and Pasay if the oligarchs would fail to give what they owe the government.

It was the tough-talking President's latest swipe at the affluent, who he earlier accused of manipulating the country's political affairs.

“When you’re taking, it’s as if we are beggars when you call upon us government workers and generalize that we are corrupt just like you. So within the next three months, I will tell the owners or those people claiming the government lands that you are not paying your taxes amounting to billions and you are using the lands of the government,” Duterte said in his speech.

“It was unclear how you got that. If you won’t return the lands to the government, then I will ask the Filipino people to occupy the lands that are in your hands. That's Makati, Pasay. You may find a nice place there.”

The President issued the warning in the wake of his grant for members of urban poor group Kadamay to occupy empty housing units meant for police and soldiers in Pandi, Bulacan.

Some politicians have expressed reservation over Duterte’s decision, saying this could set a bad precedent.



But Abella said Duterte’s comments yesterday should not be a cause for concern.

“The situation is not a precedent. The situation is actually under control and the President is aware of the situation and it will… He will still adhere to certain processes,” Abella said.