Frasco seeks Capitol’s help to recover bay ownership

CEBU, Philippines - Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco yesterday sought the provincial government’s assistance to revisit the case on the ownership of Silot Bay.

Frasco told Cebu Governor Hilario Davide, III that he had been asking the Supreme Court since March 2007 to review its decision granting ownership of the 92 hectares out of the 520-hectare Silot Bay to the family of labor leader Democrito Mendoza.

“Hopefully kung ma-review nila ang ilang decision, ang ownership sa Silot Bay mabalik unta sa Liloan,” Frasco said.

Davide asked several documents from Frasco and assured to look into the issue concerning the Silot Bay case.

“I asked if they have documents to present and I told him we will take a look at this if unsay mabuhat sa probinsya because we are not familiar with the facts,” Davide said.

Frasco, son-in-law of Davide’s political rival, third district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, acknowledged the fact that the review may take time. He said that aside from Capitol the municipal government will also ask the Office of the Solicitor General to help out.

“Next step is to find a fishing ground or an area within Silot Bay para sa atoang fisherfolks nga makapangisda gyod sila mintras ma-revisit pa ang kaso,” Frasco said.

The residents of Liloan, especially the fishermen, earlier protested the fencing off of Silot Bay by the Mendoza family allegedly depriving them of their livelihood.

The Mendozas who claimed ownership of the bay have detailed security guards in the area allegedly threatening fishermen to shoot them if they force themselves into the bay. The Mendozas however denied that the guards were detailed to threaten fishermen.

According to them, the guards were detailed to serve as lifeguards since the area is allegedly prone to drowning.—(FREEMAN)