P100-M SEAFOOD PROCESSING PLANT UNDER SIEGE

INFLUENTIAL persons, some in public office, are manipulating the squatters in defying the Dagupan City government.

Councilor Michael Fernandez pointed to a lawyer, a judge and a town mayor as those principally agitating informal settlers in sitio Russia in barangay Bonuan Binloc to resist the demolition of their houses and subsequent relocation.

Fernandez, speaking in last Monday’s session of the city council, made this revelation as he sought the passage of a resolution manifesting support for the barangay council of Bonuan Binloc which is now the object of hate-rumors in retaliation by the squatters for cooperating with the city government in clearing sitio Russia of illegal structures.

Fernandez did not name the lawyer, judge and town mayor but these are reportedly among those tagged to have illegally occupied the foreshore land of barangay Bonuan Binloc and whose rest and vacation houses are also set to be demolished.

Their ‘behind-the-scene’ manipulation became evident when after the affected residents won a week’s extension of the deadline for the demolition of their structures, they took the chance to file a petition for sought a temporary restraining order against the city government. (See related story)

Informed about the meddling of these people, City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said he was not aware of these moves but was not surprised that the informal settlers are seeking help from friends and sympathizers.

Councilor Fernandez said the Bonuan Binloc barangay council headed by Barangay Chairman Ronaldo Torio needs all the support that they can get because it sided with the city government in its difficult task in clearing the area and against the interests of its constituents.

To justify its unconditional support for the beleaguered barangay council, the councilor reminded his colleagues that both the city government and the barangay stand to benefit from the construction of the P100 million Seafood Processing Plant in the area since it will generate revenues and provide jobs to the unemployed in the barangay.

The city government has so far failed to clear the area and the initial attempt to demolish the illegal structures last August 8 almost resulted in violence.

The councilor said the barangay council had been conducting regular dialogues with the people of sitio Russia to persuade them to give way to the multi-million peso processing plant.

But he said the council’s moves were foiled by the ‘influential’ parties that include an official of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, a judge and a mayor of an adjacent town who rallied the remaining squatters to resist attempts by the of the city government to remove them from the area.

The members of the barangay council were caught in the middle of the controversy and yet they stood their ground and supported the city government in this effort, Fernandez said.

Mayor Fernandez earlier assured that no forced eviction will happen, directed anew the demolition of the illegal structures scheduled on August 19 to proceed while adopting the policy of observance of maximum tolerance and to uphold the necessary legal processes.

However, now that the petition of the remaining residents of sitio Russia for a writ of injunction and restraining order was filed demolition may no longer proceed as scheduled. — LM

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