Capitol help sought on Silot Bay row

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale vows to help the residents of Liloan town who were affected by the fencing off of Silot Bay.

The affected residents went to see Magpale at the Capitol yesterday to seek the provincial government’s intervention.

“We are behind the people… (We will help them) unsay makatarunganon alang kanila,” Magpale told reporters.

According to Magpale, the affected residents of Liloan, mostly fishermen, have been denied access to Silot Bay because the family of labor leader Democrito Mendoza fenced off the area. The Mendozas have detailed armed guards threatening to shoot anybody who get into the bay.

The affected residents have been holding protest rallies against the Mendozas claiming that they have been deprived of their livelihood.

Magpale said the provincial government will study what help it can possibly extend to the affected residents.

 â€œTan-awon nato (where we can help). Kining sa Supreme Court, mo-give up ta kay Supreme Court naman. But our lawyers said naa’y remedy, and that we have to study the case again. Di makatarunganon nga ang dagat napanag-iyahan,” said Magpale.

The vice governor said that she remembered being approached in 1998 for help with regards to the case. She said they won it in the Regional Trial Court level, but the decision was reversed by the Supreme Court in 2007 recognizing the Mendozas’ ownership of the whole bay area as a “natural fishpond.”

The residents said the place has always been a public swimming area. Silot Bay appears like a big lagoon  that connects the recreational park of the Mendozas, Papa Kits, to the sea.

The Mendozas also own the Nalusuan Island in Cordova.

Magpale said she already called provincial attorney Orvi Ortega to gather all available documents with regards to this case.

“According to the lawyer, we can still do something,” she said.

The vice governor said the province is also open to hold a dialogue with the Mendozas to discuss the issue.— (FREEMAN)