Tension threatens moalboal anew: Residents rile as Tri-Island guards fence disputed lots

Tension has stirred Moalboal town again when armed security guards of Tri-Island Holdings Corporation resumed putting up fences on a lot, the ownership of which has been disputed by a group of people in the area.

Tri-Island guards, led by Claudio Temblor, and others two of whom were identified as Bryan Briones and Antonio Avenido, reportedly went to the area of a disputed lot at sitio Kawanso in barangay Tuble and started putting up barbed wires on the lot perimeter.

This triggered an angry reaction from members of the Basdiot-Tuble-Saavedra Farmers and Fishermen Association, saying they would resist this latest activity of the firm's guards.

"We will resist in a lawful and peaceful manner the grossly illegal act of Tri-Island. If violence breaks, surely it will not come from our ranks," said Teodula Lagon, president of the association.

Barangay captain Lorreta Canumay claimed ownership of the lot that the guards started fencing yesterday. Tri-Island said it owned that lot and several hectares more, in barangays Basdiot, Saavedra, and Tuble, which the association members also said they owned.

Moalboal is a town located southwest of Cebu province and about 89 kilometers from Cebu City.

Lagon said her group had planned to carry out a "guba-kural" campaign to stop the Tri-Island guards from continuing to fence the area. "We will tear down the fences which has become the symbol of land grabbing and oppression," she said.

Lagon said Tri-Island has been claiming ownership of virtually the entire expanse of the three barangays but then the firm could not present any document to prove it until now. She feared that tension might worsen and could result in bloodshed if the firm insists on fencing the area.

In December last year, she said, "the fully-armed guards of the company had attacked the residents of Basdako, Saavedra," resulting in the death of Rodylon Callao, a beach resort employee.

"We call on Mayor Innocentes Cabaron to act promptly and decisively. His half-hearted response, not to mention lack of political will, will only embolden Tri-Island to act with impunity," she said.

Last May, Lagon's group sent to Mayor Cabaron a petition letter, signed by at least 1000 affected residents, but the latter allegedly ignored it as he failed to do something about the matter.

The group informed the mayor about the volatile situation in the area, adding that, "The security guards of Tri-Island still continue to threaten us. They are roaming around carrying firearms and causing fear among us."

Lagon said the presence of the armed guards in the area raised fear among residents that violence might erupt anytime. Her group also requested the mayor to order Tri-Island to pull out its guards from there to avoid a breakout of violence.

There were several violent incidents in the past that also resulted in injuries to many resisting civilians. It started in December 2003 when the guards tried to start fencing the lots and set up checkpoints leading to Saavedra, Tuble, and Poblacion East.

Tri-Island claimed the properties on behalf of the heirs of former Marcos crony Rebecco Panlilio, whoreportedly bought vast tracts during the 1970s at 10 centavos per square meter only. - Wenna A. Berondo/RAE