SBMA issues ultimatum to evict 11 farmers from freeport land
A team from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) serves last Tuesday (Jan. 4) a final notice of eviction to farmers allegedly illegally occupying the Tipo area of the freeport. PHOTO FROM SBMA
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—At least 11 farmers, who are members of the local group Filipino Farmers Center Internazionale (FFCI), have been given a final notice on Tuesday (Jan. 4) to vacate areas along the northeast periphery of this freeport that they allegedly occupied illegally.
In a statement, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Wednesday (Jan. 5) said the “illegal settlers” have five days upon receipt of the notice to vacate lots at the Tipo area before the agency formally takes over the premises.
The notice was signed by lawyer Teophanie Christy Reutotar, manager of the SBMA Legal Department.
“Despite repeated advice for you to vacate the same, it is apparent that you continue to refuse to vacate and illegally occupy and build structures over the subject area,” the SBMA notice read.
It added: “Please consider this as our final demand for you to vacate the subject premises. Otherwise, the agency will be constrained to resort to legal remedies, including the filing of criminal and civil cases against you, if necessary.”
The final notice was served by personnel from the SBMA Ecology Center and the SBMA Law Enforcement Department. It was addressed separately to FFCI, represented by one Joselito Gabriel, and 11 of its officers and members.
According to the SBMA, the notice was received by Joel Donato, an FFCI marshal assigned to the FFCI office in the area.
But Donato said the farmers lived somewhere else and only visit the area from time to time.
SBMA Chair Wilma Eisma said her office decided to send the FFCI and its members an ultimatum after verifying the continued occupation by the group since April last year of the freeport area identified as Lot 2.
She said the SBMA had already filed court cases against 30 families affiliated with FFCI for illegally occupying Lot 12, an area at the boundary of the freeport and the Roosevelt National Park in Dinalupihan, Bataan.
