Guizo captain cries “harassment”

CEBU, Philippines — The barangay captain of Guizo, Mandaue City has cried political harassment after the city government recalled their garbage trucks due to alleged failure to manage the garbage problem in the barangay.

Barangay Captain Jesus Neri Sr. said that he had been experiencing “political harassment” from the city government since 2023.

According to him, city administrator Atty. Jamaal James Calipayan did not recognize his authority when the city official allowed his first councilman to sign the daily time record of the city’s job order employees assigned to the barangay.

“Klaro kaayo ni’ng harassment, ngano man? Kana lang gikuhaan ko og katungod, gitangtang amoang mga JO sukad pa atong 2023. Klaro kaayo’ng harassment, political harassment,” said Neri during a press conference yesterday.

Instead of Neri signing the DTR of clean and green personnel, Calipayan authorized first councilman Arnulfo Capacite, father of Neri’s opponent in the 2023 elections.

“Walo nalang kabuwan mag-barangay election, ang gisuportaan sa mayor si Clyve Capacite. Mao na tingali na ilang tuyo nga ila ta’ng pildihon, niya unsaon man wala man ta napilde,” said Neri.

Calipayan, however, explained that there was nothing political about the city’s decision. He said it was the barangay’s environmental violations that prompted the city government to take over the garbage collection.

“Kung political harassment pa na, nganong siya raman ang barangay nga atoang gibuhatan sa ingon ug ang ubang barangay nga aligned sa uban wala man nato gibuhatan? Kay maayo raman ilang performance,” said Calipayan.

He clarified that the several environmental violations of Barangay Guizo, as recommended by the Mandaue City Environment and Natural resources Office, was the reason behind the recall of the garbage trucks.

Calipayan admitted giving the first councilman the authority to sign the DTR for the simple reason that they trust the first councilman more than the barangay captain. Despite having no authority to sign the DTR, Calipayan said the barangay captain was still exercising control and supervision over the JO workers in the barangay.

GUIZO’S GARBAGE COLLECTION

On September 5, the city government ordered the recall of the garbage trucks assigned to Barangay Guizo upon the recommendation of MCENRO. As reported, since July 2018, Barangay Guizo, under Neri’s leadership, has committed several environmental violations such as illegal dumping of solid waste.

However, Neri denied that his barangay has committed environmental violations. He likewise denied being inefficient in collecting the garbage.

“Sa ila bitaw’ng mga gipadayag nga ang Barangay Guizo, ang barangay kapitan, nga wala gyud nitagad og kuha sa basura sa Brgy Guizo, atong tubag ana, nga dili gyud intawon na tinuod,” Neri said.

Neri said the barangay tried its best to collect the garbage on time but delays are unavoidable especially when there are times that the trucks needed repair.  He explained that the lack of personnel is also a challenge for him considering the size of Barangay Guizo.

“Kay ang area sa Guizo sauna 40.34 hectares ra, karon nahimo ng 80 plus hectares,” the barangay captain said.

Barangay Guizo only has two garbage collectors and two truck drivers. They were also ordered to stop reporting for duty effective September 3.

Truck driver Antonio Abellanosa said the decision to remove them from service was unfair and abrupt.

“Ang pagtaktak nila dili gyud na siya makatarungan gyud, sayop gyud na ilaha gyud, kay sila dere-deretso lang sila sa pagtaktak sa tao, sa ato pa dere-deretso pagtaktak og tao ila pung gilubong ang tao nga di makakaon,” said Abellanosa.

Despite what happened, Neri said they have no plans of appealing to the city government.

“Kami karon, wala nami plano nga muhangyo (city government) kay sigurado man gihapon nga dili mi tugutan,” said Neri.

Instead, the barangay will ask a garbage truck from Congresswoman Emmarie “Lollypop” Ouano-Dizon. –/FPL (FREEMAN)