CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña vowed to take action on the reforestration Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and retired general Tiburcio Fusilero in the mountain barangays.
But only after the City Council had proven that these affected residents in barangays Cantipla, Tabunan and other mountain barangays, are proven residents and voters of the city.
He said the most acceptable form of evidence is to find out if they have been registered voters in the area for some time now.
He said if they were not even voters during the last election then the allegation that these people had just moved into these barangays may be valid.
“But if these people had been there for the longest time then that’s very good. If that’s the case, that these people are harassed I will definitely move for the cancellation of the MOA,” Osmeña said.
He said he is putting a detachment in the area and is giving them one week to choose the detachment commander that they trust.
“Sila mismo ang mopili sa mga police so that they will not come to me one day and complain that these policemen are siding with Fusilero. And if they want the tanods to be manned with machine guns, then we’ll arm them, I have to protect these people if they are really harassed,” Osmeña said.
Osmeña called the situation in the mountain barangays “very dangerous”.
“I don’t want to create unrest in the urban areas much more in the mountain areas,” the mayor said.
Lawyer Kim Grace Mendoza, who is representing the farmers, said they are delighted with the assurance of the mayor.
More than 30 Cantipla settlers and farmers visited the mayor yesterday to air their complaints against Fusilero.
The next move, Mendoza, said is to have a dialogue with Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza for the cancellation.
“Why give him the right to reforest, why not give such rights to the farmers instead?” Mendoza said.
They questioned the implementation of reforestation when Fusilero allegedly built an anthorium garden and a piggery in the area. — Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP (THE FREEMAN)