Dialogue for Medellin islet controversy

CEBU, Philippines - Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez has granted the request of some Gibitngil Island fisher folk for a dialogue on Wednesday regarding the ongoing construction of a footbridge that would connect the island to another islet now called the “Funtastic Medellin Island Watch.”

Ramirez, however, limited the meeting to five persons from the side of the fisher folk, who are being led by one Henry Cuyos. It was also Cuyos who requested a dialogue with Ramirez at the mayor’s office. 

Ramirez also asked Cuyos to make sure that his companions are true residents of Barangay Gibitngil following reports that the protest action is being mobilized by outsiders particularly the militant group Bayan Muna.

Ramirez was accused of harassing fisher folk who opposed the construction of the footbridge, saying the same would obstruction the passage of their fishing boats.

“I have a petition signed by 95 percent of the residents of Gibitngil supporting the project and denouncing their group as a noisy small group whose membership is on the decline as nothing more than hoodlums cloaked in Bayan Muna clothes,” Ramirez told The FREEMAN.

Ramirez said almost all the residents of sitio Baring where the project is located signed a letter denouncing the supposed outsiders for misrepresenting them. The residents reportedly said they support the project and were even the ones who requested for the footbridge to be built. 

“They are even angry because that group has camped out at their seashore and just throw away their human trash anywhere thus dirtying their sitio,” Ramirez said further.

About 20 meters west of Gibitngil facing Tañon Strait and Bantayan Sea is an islet, which resembles a huge ship. The cove underneath is reportedly a rich fishing ground.

Because the islet is considered a blind spot, Ramirez said the municipality was forced to put up a Bantay Dagat outpost thereat to prevent illegal fishermen from frequenting the area. Aside from the outpost, a diving board and stairs were also built to allow locales to spend leisure time there.

Ramirez said he decided to put up kiosks and cottages when he noticed that more and more people were frequenting the islet. He also reportedly encouraged residents there to open stores that would allow them to sell goods to the visitors. In turn, the residents reportedly asked him to build the footbridge.

However, when the footbridge was 50 percent complete, some women led by a certain Nene Cuyos reportedly blocked the carpenters from pursuing the construction. This prompted Ramirez to send policemen to the area so that the carpenters could proceed with the construction.

Insp. Manuel Singson, chief of the Medellin Police, also said it was actually those opposing the construction that are harassing the carpenters.

Singson, who led the 13 policemen who responded to the commotion, said the construction is not going well because the group members, about 30 of them, allegedly interfered in the works.

“Mga more or less three weeks ago na ni gi-construct but wa pay lansang nadukdok. Ilang birahon ang kamot sa mga panday. If magkawot ug yuta, ilang ibalik,” Singson said.

The group reportedly became calm only after Ramirez granted the request for a dialogue.

“Sobra na man sad. The project is for the good of the residents, para baya na mu-boom ilang panginabuhi, maka-tindatinda sila,” he said.

Singson said a woman, who claimed to have been injured when the guards warned them, had the incident recorded in a police blotter.

Ramirez said the footbridge project is just being made an excuse by some fishermen who are allegedly engaged in illegal fishing in the area.   - (THE FREEMAN)