ILOILO City – The city government would be deporting to Jolo, Sulu all mendicant Badjaos next month via a Philippine Air Force C-130 airplane. But this is just a temporary solution. It may not be able to stop them from returning to the city. “Filipinos man ina sila,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas’ executive assistant Hector Alejano, citing freedom of movement guaranteed in the Constitution.
Even the local government of Jolo may not be able to restrict the movement of the Badjaos, said Alejano.
“Nobody can stop them from boarding a ship and go somewhere else if they have the money to pay,” he added.
Section 6, Article III (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution reads: “The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to travel be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.”
For the impending deportation of the Badjaos next month, Alejano said the city government already sent communication to Sulu governor Abdusakur Tan and the Department of Social Welfare and Development there.
Should the Badjaos return to Iloilo City, they would again be rounded up for deportation, said Alejano.
“There is nothing we can do to completely stop them from returning. Even Manila, Cebu and Bacolod have Badjaos,” he lamented.
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.
Because of the conflict between Muslim separatists and government troops and the lack of livelihood opportunities, many Badjaos left Mindanao.
Next month is the first time the city government would be facilitating the Badjaos’ return direct to their home province. Previous deportation efforts were only up to Cagayan de Oro City where there’s a seaport with ships going to Iloilo City.
Just recently, 87 mendicant Badjaos were rounded up by the city government. They were lectured about the city ordinance on mendicancy.
Giving alms to street children and beggars is not allowed in Iloilo City and such act is punishable under City Regulation Ordinance 2002-400.
The ordinance provides that “those caught begging are liable to fines of P500, imprisonment of not more than a year or both fine and imprisonment.”
Meanwhile, giving to beggars is punishable by a fine of P500 or community service. Any person, syndicate or group who utilize and exploit minors, disabled and infirm persons in the mendicancy trade shall suffer a penalty of P2,000 in fine and imprisonment of not less than two months.
Are there persons or groups behind the proliferation of mendicant Badjaos in this city?
Mayor Jerry Treñas told Panay News he asked the National Bureau of Investigation and Iloilo City Police Office to conduct an investigation.
The Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) of the city government discovered as early as last year that Badjao mendicants would send back to where they came from the money collected here via money remittance centers.
PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu said the Badjao beggars here were from Zamboanga and Jolo.
“Didto sila nagapadala sang kwarta. Mga dalagku nga amount,” said Conlu.
According to the PSTMO chief, they received information that someone or some groups from where the Badjaos came from facilitated their travel to Iloilo City.
“Tan-awon ta kon may counterparts ina sila diri sa syudad sang Iloilo,” said Conlu. “They also found the Ilonggos generous.”
On Nov. 10, 2017 then mayor Jose Espinosa III ordered the PSTMO to round up the roaming Badjaos and ship them back to Mindanao.
“Kun mangayo-ngayo sila nagapamilit pa kag nagapamutong, kalaw-ay gid (They force people to give them alms, it’s disgusting),” said Espinosa who admitted that regulating the entry of Badjao beggars to the city would be difficult./PN
