4 mountain brgys.want DENR, Fusilero agreement revoked

At least four mountain barangays are contemplating filing each a resolution that would seek the revocation of a memorandum of agreement signed by former police regional office-7 director Tiburcio Fusillero and the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources in 2000 in which Fusillero was tasked to rehabilitate 504 hectares of forestland under DENR's Adopt a Mountain program.

The intention of barangays Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay, Taptap, and Tagbao to move for the revocation of the MOA stems from farmers' complaints of harassment allegedly committed by three policemen and security guards allegedly hired by Fusillero to guard the forestland.

At least 21 farmers have lodged complaints with the Security Services Group of the Cebu City Police Office in connection with the demolition of their houses, the killing of their cattle, and the tilling of land they are tilling.

SSG Chief P/Supt. Mariano Natuel yesterday said he has advised the farmers to file cases in court against the three policemen who allegedly act upon orders of Fusillero. The three policemen come from the Cebu Provincial Police Office and who allegedly act as security for Fusillero.

As alleged, the SSG detachment in Tabunan was padlocked on orders of Fusillero. The other policemen assigned to the detachment allegedly had to move to the DENR office in the barangay. Natuel said the DENR failed to resolve the problems because of the existence of the MOA. After learning of the farmers' complaints, Cebu Provincial Police Office director Vicente Loot said he called the attention of the men detailed as Fusillero's bodyguards two weeks ago. The policemen denied participating in the demolition.

Loot said he told the policemen to focus on being security men and refrain from getting involved in demolitions the fact that it is not their job. He said the three policemen were assigned to Fusillero before he assumed his current post. Loot has ordered the policemen to report to CCPO so that they could be ready in case an investigation is started.