BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Three members of the indigenous peoples (IPs) from Calinog, Iloilo claimed they were bribed so as not to oppose the construction of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Phase II.
Nestor Castor, Eladio Legario and Cenia Lastrilla who live in the “deep mountain parts” of the town said they also received death threats.
The three testified before the 5th Division of the Court of Appeals on Friday in connection to the petition filed for the issuance of the Writ of Kalikasan to stop the mega dam project.
Former congressman Augusto Syjuco Jr. of Iloilo’s 2nd District told Panay News the municipality of Calinog offered the three employment for “P250 a day.”
“The other jobs are to be so-called watchers of the equipment of contractors. Problem is that they don’t keep their promises,” said Syjuco, main petitioner against the dam project.
He also said that the reimbursements – provided by the National Irrigation Administration – supposedly for the damage to farm crops due to the project have not reached the farmers.
The ex-Ilonggo also sought protection for Castor, Legario and Lastrilla.
“Each of them produced letters as evidences, each written and signed by Mayor Alex Centena, asking each of them to report to him personally on June 11, 2014 to keep them from testifying in Manila,” Syjuco said in a separate statement.
If Syjuco were to be believed, the Jalaur dam project will displace 17,000 IPs.
They were not consulted about the project, he claimed.
“This is alarming considering that IPs stand to be adversely affected by the project as they may be physically, economically and spiritually dislocated,” he added.
Ilonggo Sen. Franklin Drilon who has been lobbying for the project told Panay News that the actual construction of the project will start in the first quarter of 2015.
“The detailed engineering design is almost complete. It will be bid out in the last quarter of 2014,” Drilon said.
The senator reiterated that the project will benefit about 800,000 farmers in more than 20 Iloilo municipalities.
It will also provide 17,000 jobs and double the province’s yearly rice production, Drilon added./PN
