Villagers, plywood firm fight over right of way; Zambo City execs urged to mediate

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A councilor here has proposed that Mayor Isabel Climaco-Salazar and Representative Celso Lobregat intervene in the road right-of-way problem involving residents of Barangay Recodo and plywood-maker, Dacon.

Councilor Mel Sadain said the intervention of the city’s top officials could prevent the recurrence of violence between the contending parties, similar to the May confrontation, in which a person was killed and seven others injured.

The problem between Dacon and the residents started when the company put up fence, which effectively blocked their access to the main road.

The nine-meter passageway that Recodo residents had used for years was declared by the city legal office as part of the Dacon property.

In May 2013, residents protested against the fence construction but their action ended in a tragedy.

One person was killed while seven others were injured in a grenade explosion that took place as they were clashing with Dacon security guards.

The casualty was identified as Habudding Hamja, 19, whom residents said was not even involved in the melee.

Tony Catolico, a Dacon official, said their people just defended themselves from villagers who were harassing them. He said the grenade most likely came from the villagers’ side.

In a subsequent negotiation, local Dacon officials agreed to halt the fencing activity. However, the fencing resumed this month upon orders of Dacon top officials based in Manila.

On Monday, some 80 families left their homes as tension rose anew, Sadain said.

Sadain said Climaco-Salazar and Lobregat could mediate between the warring parties to finally put an end to the problem, which has been dragging for months now.

He said he feared about the resurgence of violence without a definitive settlement of the issue.