In Daanbantayan town, water row worsens as cops nab 2

CEBU, Philippines - For trying to reconnect their water supply, the chairman of a disputed water system in Barangay Tapilon, Daanbantayan town was arrested and detained by the police yesterday morning.

Claro Benatiro, chairman of the Tapilon Rural Waterworks System Association (TARWASA), was arrested for leading his employees in reconnecting the water connection which was earlier ordered dis connected by Barangay Captain Arturo Conejos.

The wife of the organization’s manager, Rosenda Russel, was also arrested by the Daanbantayan police.

Conejos, in an interview, said Benatiro, Russel, and four other TARWASA employees, were caught in the act of reconnecting electric wires that were needed to operate their pumps to draw the water.

“Naaktuhan man silang nangawat so nanawag ko og pulis,” Conejos said. The incident happened at 9 a.m.

They had successfully connected the water system to two houses when policemen arrived and arrested Benatiro and Russel. The plumbers were able to escape, Conejos said.

The barangay captain said he ordered the disconnection last Monday because the Cebu Electric Cooperative (CEBECO) has warned them of disconnection because of the barangay’s increased electric bills.

He said they usually pay almost P50,000 a month for electricity, but they are only able to collect P15,000 from the residents. TARWASA, he said, is no longer authorized to operate the waterworks system and collect money from the households. He said it is the barangay, which is authorized to do so as stated in a resolution approved by the municipal council.

“Sige sila (TARWASA) og pangolekta from the households unya kami ang gabayad sa kuryente,” Conejos said.

Around 30 houses are dependent on TARWASA for their water supply, he said.   In previous reports, Benatiro claimed that the waterworks association has operated for 19 years and serves 1,000 residents in Daanbantayan.

There was no commotion during the arrest, Conejos said, although he had a brief verbal tussle with Benatiro.

Reports received by The FREEMAN, claim otherwise though. As of last night, PO1 Cleo Bohol of the Daanbantayan Police Station said Benatiro was still detained.

Conejos said a case for theft may possibly be filed against Benatiro and Russel.

When asked for the basis of the arrest, the police said they are still making a progress report to be submitted to their provincial headquarters.

ILLEGAL   ARREST

Hiram Benatiro, brother of Claro and former chairman of TARWASA, said the arrest was illegal because it had no basis.

He said they went to the police station to question the arrest, but they were only told by the police that they are still investigating the matter.

“Unsa ma’y imbestigahon nga wa man gani basehan ang pag-arrest,” Hiram, a former police officer said.

   He added that the police have become a puppet of the mayor. Contrary to Conejos’ claims, Hiram insisted that TARWASA is a legal, non-stock, non-profit private corporation.

He said it has been operating since the time of former governor Lito Osmeña, who included TARWASA as one of the beneficiaries of a foreign grant. Hiram said TARWASA is planning to file a case against Conejos and the Daanbantayan police following yesterday’s incident. Last year, Judge Olegalio Sarmiento issued a status quo order allowing TARWASA members to handle the operation, open their office, and replace all their materials, but this was defied by Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot.

Due to that, TARWASA sought the help of President Benigno Simeon Aquino to intervene and to give final solution to their conflict with Loot.

Claro claimed that Loot entrusted the waterworks system to the officials of the barangay because they are her political supporters who, Claro said, have not been paying their monthly water bills since the start of the controversy in 2009. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)