MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he will sell a Makati property which had been leased by the government to the Prieto and Rufino families, owners of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“I’m selling that so I can build more houses for the soldiers,” said Duterte in a speech during the celebration of the 19th founding anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

The President disclosed his plan after the Makati Regional Trial Court ordered the Rufino-Prieto-owned Sunvar Realty Development Corp to vacate the Mile Long property in Makati City on Tuesday.

Duterte has repeatedly blasted Sunvar for its occupation of the property, and has criticized the Rufino-Prieto-owned Inquirer for allegedly being biased in its reporting on the administration.

Sunvar has said it would vacate the Mile Long commercial strip following the order of the local court.

"In accordance with that commitment, Sunvar will comply and vacate Mile Long," the firm said.

Solicitor General Jose Calida and court sheriff Robert Bautista on Tuesday served the notice to vacate to the firm, wherein Sunvar was given 3 days to comply.

The firm occupied the government property in February 1982 on a lease agreement that expired in 2002.

Sunvar said it paid P16.8 million as advance rentals to develop the property with the understanding that the lease period would expire in 2027.

The company also appealed on behalf of its tenants for more time to vacate the property saying the 3-day grace period was not enough.