Letter to the Editor - 3rd National Scout Venture: A gruesome experience

Last October 22-28, 2006, I brought with me 16 boys and six adult leaders to participate in the 3rd National Scout Venture held at Camp Capitol Hills, Cebu City .

The Maasin City contingent represented the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Southern Leyte Council. There were 2,240 scouts and delegates who participated in the national gathering of senior scouts all over the country.

The activities include Opening Ceremonies, Global Development Village, Venture Trail, Community Action, Cebu Heritage, Crossroads of Culture, Team Games, Water Rescue and Survival, Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts, Sub-Camp and Grand Campfires and Closing Ceremonies.

Water was scarce and we were made to construct our own toilets, different from the previous national and regional jamborees that we have experienced. We have to pay the residential houses just to use their toilet, take a bath and avail services of water at P10 per container. To use the "commercial" rest rooms we had to walk about five hundred meters. But we considered that experience as part of the scouting training.

But the most horrifying experience occurred when we were scheduled to go home Saturday, October 28 via Hilongos on board Gloria Shipping Lines. We were made to undergo a tight security check at the entrance of the Cebu Pier 3 Terminal and considering that we have so many belongings and baggage with us, it took us almost three hours to line up towards the x-ray machine.

We pleaded to the port guard that we will let our vehicle directly go to the vessel because some of our possessions might get lost during the inspection process and there were several passengers and people at the pier during that time, but to no avail. Worse, our knives and sharp objects were confiscated, though they were returned to us after an hour of undergoing series of investigations.

Our LPG tank was left behind because the Cebu Ports Authority personnel wanted us to ask clearance from the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard will not issue a clearance or release order because it was after office hours. Being boy scouts undergoing camping, we have to bring those items. We were not even given the privilege to be inspected separately from the rest of the passengers.

When we arrived at the gangplank of the boat, the Coast Guard stationed there said we could have let our service vehicle directly pass the gate with our cargoes and only us being screened at the x-ray because they have a K-9 dog sniffing our belongings just below the boat we were going to board. That made us annoyed because after undergoing a terrible security check it would have been easier for us to undergo the alternate process suggested by the Coast Guard. There was the BSP Leyte Council and the Samar Councils with us at the pier that time.

We agreed that we will no longer participate in any scouting activity that will be held in Cebu because of the nightmarish security procedures.

I lost personal belongings contained in one plastic bag including my airbed, cellular phone charger, slippers, hammock and important notebooks during the atrocious security check. There are several thousands of passengers out there complaining and I am just bringing their voice.

MALONEY L. SAMACO
Vice Mayor - Maasin City
Chairman - Boy Scouts of the Philippines
Southern Leyte Council