Tension at sitio Ihawan

CEBU, Philippines - Tension grew yesterday afternoon at sitio Ihawan in barangay Mantuyong in Mandaue City when an owner of one of the pigpens that was being demolished by the city demolition team dared its leader to a gun duel.

Barangay Mantuyong captain Antonio Maquilan arrived at the area and expressed his resentment to the demolition of his pigpen.

Allain “Buddy” Ybañez of the city legal office said Maquilan was in a fighting mood when the demolition team started to demolish his pigpen which was built on top of the Mantuyong creek.

Ybañez said it was earlier agreed that Maquilan would voluntarily demolish his pigpen.

But when the demolition team arrived, the pigpen was still there, and this prompted it to start to knock it down.

This apparently irked Maquilan who had just arrived at the area, and allegedly threatened the demolition team and challenged team head Edmund Maboloc to a gun duel at the Reclamation Area.

“Suko siya nganong iya daw ang dumtan, nga paadtoon sa site ug huwaton dyud daw ko niya,” Ybañez said.

To diffuse the tension, the demolition team pulled out and the SWAT was summoned.

Ybañez said he and Maboloc have filed a complaint in the Centro police station while the legal office will file charges against him.

At around 2 o’clock yesterday, a newly constructed pigpen near the Mantuyong creek was discovered.

Rogelio Baclohan who was among those sent with a notice of demolition, built another pigpen a day after he voluntarily demolished his pigpen.

Ybañez said no action will be taken against Baclohan after he agreed to bring his 21 hogs to the city abattoir.

Aside from the discovery of a newly constructed pigpen, the city’s Task Force on Meat Inspection headed by city veterinarian Dr. Daisy Penetrante, seized three newly slaughtered pigs at the site at around 12 noon yesterday.

Since nobody claimed ownership of the three slaughtered pigs, the city seized and donated these to the Mandaue City Jail.  (FREEMAN)