Soc intervenes in Byron-Filinvest conflict

CEBU, Philippines -  The conflict between former Capitol security consultant Byron Garcia and the Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) was brought to the attention of Talisay Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

“Puro valid ilang concern, mao nga dia mi sa office ni mayor ron para maghusay (They both have valid concerns that’s why we are here to settle things),” said Pooc Barangay Chief Dory Emit. The meeting was still in progress as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

Emit told The FREEMAN that yesterday afternoon, Fernandez called him and FDC representatives as well as Garcia to settle the conflict. The conflict started when Garcia blocked Tuesday night a portion of a road in Corona del Mar which connects to Escala, a new subdivision developed by FDC.

FDC also owns and operates Corona del Mar where Garcia claims to be the president of the homeowners association.

According to Garcia in an interview over radio dyAB, he closed the road to protect it from being damaged by heavy equipment passing through it everyday since FDC started developing the adjacent Escala subdivision.

Being the head of the homeowners association, he said it is his obligation to ensure that the children living in their subdivision are not exposed to danger the regular journey of these huge trucks brings.

He said FDC could have actually advised its construction workers to use the alternate route away from Corona but had not done so. So he parked his black pick-up and a white delivery van in the middle of the road since around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Early the next day, Ret. Brig. Gen. Gilberto Abanto Jr., who claims to be the vice president of the homeowners association, asked the city police for assistance.

Supt. Eddie Recamara and his men immediately responded to the request and went inside Corona del Mar. At this point, the media were prohibited from getting inside the subdivision.

But from afar, subdivision guards were seen pushing aside Garcia’s vehicles. Three culverts were also placed at the blockade point. Garcia denied having a hand in it.

Homeowner Michael William said he earlier saw construction workers placing these but he did not clarify if the workers positioned it exactly in the area which blocked the road.

Garcia, however, did not lift a finger to stop the guards when they started removing his cars from the road.

Meanwhile, Garcia asked FDC officials to stop the development to secure the residents of Corona. He further claimed that the rest of the homeowners also want the same.

The FREEMAN tried but failed to get a comment from Dante Ramos, legal counsel and spokesperson of FDC. — (FREEMAN)