How it happened

BYRON Garcia and his new American neighbor argued over  metal barriers with “Slow Down” signs put up by the foreigner on the street outside his home in Corona del Mar subdivision.

“He’s bullied us (me and my family) and tried to be a dictator,” said Wayne Morris, who has a construction firm in the United States.

Three signs were put up last Friday after being delivered by subdivision manager Filinvest.

At 8 a.m last Sunday, according to Morris, he was relaxing with his family at home  when they heard someone shouting outside.

He said he saw  Garcia carrying away the the metal signages.   Garcia shouted at him for setting up the barricade without his permission.

“He told me that he was the president of the association and I should have asked him about it first,” recounted Morris in an interview.

When he told Garcia that he has Filinvest’s permission, the governor’s younger brother said he didn’t  need that.

“I put back the signages in the streets,” Morris said.

The American said  Garcia used foul language and insulted him, after Morris retorted that  Garcia acted with no authority.

“He picked up the signages and threw them in a  vacant lot,” Morris said.   He said he thought the argument ended there  after Garcia left on a bicycle. Garcia  returned a few minutes later in a car with five guards.

Morris said he went out and told Garcia that he should stop acting like he was “somebody.”

“I asked him, who do you think you are?” Morris  recalled.

He said this only infuriated Garcia, who went back to his vehicle, took out a rifle and walked towards him.

“I’m in control and I’m the law here,” Morris quoted Garcia as  telling him.

Morris said he told his wife and daughter to get inside the house for safety.

“He acted like he was going to shoot us . It looked nasty,” he said.

Morris said he went back to the house and called the Talisay City police for assistance.

“This guy is trying to be a dictator in a subdivision, said the American.

Morris said he only knew about Garcia’s political influence after he went to the subdivision  clubhouse that afternoon and asked a neighbor who Garcia was. He said  he was advised not to file a complaint against the governor’s younger brother.

Morris said he lived in the subdivision with his wife for two weeks. They’ve been married for three years.

“I decided to settle in Cebu because it’s near the international airport and people are friendly. I don’t want any problems. I just want to live a peaceful life,” Morris said.

He said he returns to the United States  twice a year to oversee his construction firm.

In a separate interview, Garcia said he was elected   president of the Corona del Mar homeowners association last Sept. 11.

Garcia said he would  file a complaint against Morris with  the Bureau of Immigration and was gathering affidavits of neighbors who witnessed the confrontation.

“He’s undesirable and he makes his own law,” Garcia told Cebu Daily News.

“Being disrespectful to a Filipino can be grounds for deportation,” Garcia said.

BI Regional Director Casimero Madarang said it would be difficult to deport a foreigner especially if he’s married to a Filipina and is already considered a resident in the country.

“They are protected by our laws but they can also be prosecuted,” Madarang said.

He said grounds for deportation usualy involve involve conflicts in  the visa or immigration papers, unlawful entry or undesirable and criminal behavior.

Madarang said any complaint would be sent to the  Board of Commission in Manila and a hearing will be called.Sen. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., Cebu provincial police chief, said he ordered the Talisay City police to investigate the incident. With reports from Correspondents Chito Aragon and Gabriel C, Bonjoc