WHO’S EXPLOITING POOR BADJAOS? NBI, police to investigate proliferation of beggars

ILOILO City – Are there persons or groups behind the proliferation of mendicant Badjaos in this city? A city ordinance punishes any person, syndicate or group that utilizes and exploits persons in the mendicancy trade.

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.

His office expects an increase in the number of Badjaos these “ber months” – from September until December.

September in this country is traditionally deemed the beginning of the countdown to Christmas.

The PSTMO has so far counted 89 Badjaos – adults and children, male and female.

“Nag-order si Mayor. Gusto ‘ya padalman kon ngaa nagabalik-balik ang mga Badjao diri sa syudad, kon may ara gid man mga handlers ukon nagakapot sini sa ila,” 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.

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.

“They also found the Ilonggos generous,” said Conlu.

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.

Begging and giving alms to beggars are punishable under City Regulation Ordinance 2002-400.

Mendicants are liable to fines of P500, imprisonment of not more than a year, or both fine and imprisonment. On the other hand, giving to beggars is punishable by a fine of P500 or community service.

Also under the ordinance, 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.

“They also defecate anywhere. Public health and sanitation are being compromised,” said Espinosa.

In 2005 during the administration of then mayor Mansueto Malabor, the city government created a task force to help the Badjaos return to Mindanao.

The Badjaos, however, kept on coming back to Iloilo City.

According to Conlu, Mayor Treñas wanted the Badjaos returned to Mindanao but not via ships but by airplane

The Philippine Air Force had been asked to provide an aircraft for the deportation.

“We are just waiting for the availability of the C130 aircraft of the Air Force,” said Conlu./PN