ILOILO City – A total of 77 mendicant Badjaos from Bacolod City were rescued in this city and Dumangas town in Iloilo province.
Around 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, assisted by the local social welfare and development offices of Iloilo City and Dumangas, the Badjaos were sent back to Bacolod via a roll-on roll-off (roro) vessel from the Dumangas port on their way home.
According to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, proper coordination was made with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 before the Badjaos were transported by a Ceres bus from Bacolod to Dumaguete City where from there they would take a ship to their home province Zamboanga.
The Badjaos, widely known as “sea gypsies”, are an ethnic group scattered along the coastal areas of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, and some coastal municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“As a responsible local government unit, Iloilo City will complete what others have attempted to do halfway,” said Treñas.
Jeck Conlu, head of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), said 49 of the 77 Badjaos were rescued in Iloilo City while 28 were rounded up by the local government unit (LGU) of Dumangas.
Treñas cited the Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), PSTMO and Executive Assistant Hector Alejano in rescuing the Badjaos.
“Salamat gid. Now you have shown how a proper local government works,” the city mayor added.
Treñas got irk after having been informed that the city government of Bacolod supposedly shipped to Iloilo early morning on Friday, June 23, via a roro vessel some 80 Badjaos roaming around and asking for alms in Bacolod.
As acting mayor that time, Bacolod City’s Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran apologized and admitted the lapses of their Department of Social Services and Development personnel in handling the Badjaos.
Familiaran’s apology and explanation, however, did not set well with Treñas.
“I am very disappointed with the lack of proper coordination on the part of Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran regarding this matter. As a leader himself, he is expected to observe proper measures as a sign of respect to other LGUs,” Treñas said.
Through an executive order, the city mayor declared Familiaran persona non grata in Iloilo City.
Further, the heated exchange of words degenerated to name calling – using words like “stupid” and “pulok-pulok”.
Treñas said he “cannot think of how stupid a local government can become; they must resolve this issue themselves.”
“The stupidity of a government official is shown by the stupidity of his actions. I cannot imagine how stupid these officials have become,” he added.
Familiaran, on the other hand, after stating that he won’t stoop down to Treñas’ level, responded, “Respect begets respect. Tani nag-investigate ka anay antis ka nagpulok-pulok,” to which Treñas further responded, “No amount of replies will change the fact that the Badjaos are already here in Iloilo City and he was responsible for the same.”/PN
