He said he only wanted to meet the fisherfolk who filed a case against him in relation to the Cordova reclamation project before the Ombudsman-Visayas.
But the fisherfolk were alarmed when they received reports that three of their own were visited by tanods sent by Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy last Saturday noon and yesterday.
Ecology advocates decried the visits as harassment while Sitoy said he coordinated with barangay officials to invite the fishermen, one of whom is married to a maid of his brother, Provincial Board (PB) Member Arleigh Sitoy.
“It’s normal for them to be afraid because it was the mayor who called the meeting and tanods went to their house,” said Victor Lapaz, president of the Panaghugpong sa mga Gagmayang Mananagat sa Sugbu (Pamana-Sugbu).
Lapaz said they received reports that three barangay tanods visited the houses of fishermen Edie Quijano, Alejandro Baguio and Cirilo Pagobo who told them that Sitoy wants to meet with them.
He said Quijano, one of the members of the fisher folk community in barangay Carolinas in Cordova town, went with the barangay tanods while Baguio and Pagobo declined.
“He (Quijano) went with them because he was afraid,” Lapaz told Cebu Daily News.
Not police
He said that he still has to meet with them to ask how it happened.
Roberto Obregon, a 30-year-old fisherman and neighbor of Quijano, said three men went to Quijano and identified themselves as Sitoy’s men.
“They’re not police because they don’t have firearms and uniform, but I have a list of their names,” he said.
At 6 p.m. yesterday, Obregon said the men returned and invited Quijano to see the mayor. Obregon said Quijano was very vocal in his opposition on the reclamation project.
He said there was no assurance if the reclamation project would benefit them.
Obregon said there was no written agreement from the Cordova municipal government and the fisherfolk that would ensure the protection of their welfare.
Concerns
He also said he didn’t know Lapaz, who also opposes the project.
Sitoy said he wanted to meet with the fisherfolk and coordinated with the barangay captains for the meeting.
He said he wanted to personally ask them why they directly filed a case.
“I want to ask them what the problem is so we can discuss it. I personally know them. I’ve known them for a long time,” Sitoy told Cebu Daily News.
He said that he was surprised when he found out the three fishermen were among the petitioners of the case.
Sitoy said he was especially close to Quijano, husband of the maid of his brother Arleigh.
He said Quijano went to their house last Saturday afternoon and they talked for 10 minutes since he was on his way to another meeting.
Facilitate
He claimed that Quijano denied knowing about the filing of the case.
Sitoy said Quijano told him that he only accompanied the other fisherfolk in the Ombudsman-Visayas.
“I am not trying to harass them. Gipasubay lang nako sila sa mga kapitan arun mahibaw-an nako ilang problema (I only had them summoned by the barangay captains so I can learn about their problems),” Sitoy said.
He said he just asked Quijano what their problems are and what led them to file the case against him.
“Can’t I ask them myself? It is also my right to ask,” he said.
He said since they did not really talk last Saturday, he told Quinjano to meet with him again today.
Sitoy said he also informed barangay officials that he wanted to meet with Baguio and Pagobo today.
Public dialogue
But lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos of the Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) said if Sitoy wanted to meet with the fisherfolk, he should do so in a public place with the presence of their lawyers.
“As much as possible, he should not meet each of them separately. They are not fully aware of their rights and they are easily harassed. (The mayor is a) lawyer, he should know the law,” Ramos said.
She said Sitoy could also be cited for obstruction of justice since it could affect their pending case in the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Ramos said if the mayor wants another meeting with the fisherfolk, they would also request the presence of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to ensure that the rights of the locals won’t be violated.
“What he (Sitoy) did was a clear harassment,” Ramos said.
She said they already advised the fisherfolk to decline further meetings with Sitoy.
She said they will also write Sitoy’s office to seek his explanation about the incident.
“The best thing is a dialogue in the public with the fisherfolks and the lawyers,” Ramos said.
Detriment
PEJC led the filing of complaint last Friday before the Ombudsman-Visayas against Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo and five other government officials.
They accused the officials of failing to protect the environment and the people’s livelihood, alleging that the Cordova reclamation project will destroy the town’s marine resources and ecosystem.
Also named respondents in the administrative and and criminal complaint were Vice Mayor Rodrigo Jumao-as, Regional Director Ananias Villacorta of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Director Fernado Quililan of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) 7 and EMB employee William Cunado.
The petitioners said Cebu’s marine ecosystem is deteriorating due to the dismal enforcement and lack of political will by state agencies and officials to implement “our world-class laws.”
“They are partners in undertaking the ecologically damaging project to the grave detriment of our life, health and environment,” they said.
The petitioners alleged that respondents violated such laws as the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010, the Local Government Code, Anti-Red Tape Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713).
An initial 10 hectares is being reclaimed for a port and amenities in Cordova.
This is reportedly part of a 152-hectare project that includes a 120-hectare “mini-Boracay” or artificial beach. /Candeze R. Mongaya, Reporter with a report from Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza