Mayor denies he threatened rallyists

CEBU, Philippines -  Bantayan Mayor Ian Christopher Escario has belied reports that he threatened organizers of a protest rally in the town Saturday during the commemoration of the first anniversary of typhoon Yolanda. 

 Escario was reacting to the allegations made by a Sanlakas organizer that he threatened them causing some leaders to back out from the rally.

 “Kahibawo ang taga Bantayan nga wa ko’y armed group, wa man gani ko’y bodyguard, amo polis 15 ra kabuok,” Escario said.

 Nally Murillo, Sanlakas organizer and Bulig Visayas – Cebu area coordinator, earlier said Escario allegedly threatened them that he would deploy his armed group if they would push through with their assembly in the same area where acti-vities for the commemoration would take place.  

But Escario said they allowed the rally even if Sanlakas did not secure a permit from the town.

 “The next morning na-ngutana ang polis padayunon ba ang rally. Ako giingnan nga pagustohi nalang na kay ipagawas unya nga ato gipugngan,” he said.

 Escario also said that the pictures they have taken clearly shows that there were only less than a hundred participants in the rally, contrary to the report that there were 300 Sanlakas members and supporters.

 Sanlakas has reportedly recruited supporters to parti-cipate in their rally since September, said Escario.

 Further, the mayor said that Murillo and three others were earlier called to his office to ask the purpose of the rally.

 “Gusto lang sila mo-express sa sentiments. Okey man mo-express sa sentiments pero kahibalo naman ta nga ang gobyerno nani-nguha nga mahatag tanan,” Escario said.

 Later on, Escario said they found out that Murillo was neither a resident of Bantayan nor a taxpayer in the municipality but a resident of Lapu-Lapu City.

Escario also said that two weeks prior the Yolanda commemoration, the municipal plaza was already reserved for the activities slated for the event. This was in response to the complaint of Sanlakas that they were not given a proper place to hold a rally.

“Giimbitar pa gani nako sila sa plaza. Mas daghan niapil sa ato commemoration, wa na’y naminaw sa ila,” he said.

 The rally was in solida-rity with other protest assemblies held throughout the country seeking justice for Yolanda victims and survivors after the government allegedly failed in its rehabilitation programs in calamity-stricken areas.

 Organizers claimed that only less than one percent of Yolanda survivors have availed of the permanent housing aid from the government while 200,000 families still suffer as they continue to live in tents and bunkhouses.

 The group also criticized the government for taking almost a year for President Benigno Aquino III to sign the rehabilitation master plan.

 “Kahibalo man ta ana, maghuwat ta,” Escario added. — (FREEMAN)