BAHA asks Bing to issue public apology to Felisa residents
BACOLOD CITY -- The group called Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance (BAHA) is asking Mayor Evelio Leonardia to issue a public apology to the residents of Brgy. Felisa in relation to what happened last October 26, 2008.
BAHA formalized their request by writing personally Mayor Leonardia which was received by Mayor's Office on October 31 at 10:15 a.m.
"We condemn in the strongest terms the physical abuse and humiliation inflicted upon the residents of the barangay led by City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora and the police," BAHA said.
The residents of barangay Felisa pleaded to be allowed to hold a peaceful barricade for only one day and asked the mayor's presence for a dialogue in the barangay.
"These fell on deaf ears instead you sent your men to push and shove the residents like insignificant people," BAHA's letter reads.
Earlier, Mayor Leonardia justified that it's not true that they (Felisa people) asked his presence in the barangay for dialogue. He said, they were asking for a dialogue at 1 p.m on that day in the city hall that's why he came before 1 p.m. to again listen to their grievances but he waited until 3 p.m. and none of the Felisa people came in.
His office was informed that the group who barricaded the streets does not want to go to city hall saying they wanted the mayor's presence right in the area where they held the rally.
The mayor said it's very clear from the very beginning that he wanted to listen to the people, one example was that he went to the barangay few days before the barricade and attended the public hearing called by barangay's committee on clean and green, but it should not be in the heated place. "Let us talk the issue in cool place," the mayor said.
Punong Barangay Perigrino Aspan then argued that it should be the mayor who should come and not them because the fare going to the city hall is expensive.
Atty. Allan Zamora on the other hand said the BAHA statement is unfair since they judged the mayor without asking his side first.
"During the dispersal, I haven't seen even one member of BAHA in the area," Zamora added.
As of press time, the mayor is still silent on the call of BAHA but his allies considered it as part of the concerted efforts of his detractors to twist the real scenario.
The letter was signed by 17 members of BAHA Council namely: Jean Trebol, Agnes Jalandoni, Elsie Coscolluela, Anna Balcells, Tina Monfort, Cayenne Gaston, Merly Severino, Gigi Campos, Boy Piccio, Norman Campus, Edgar Sarona, Dionisio Dela Cruz, Rene Hinojales, Alan Gensoli, Francis Cuenca, Gina Piccio and Inday Javellana.
Meanwhile, Jean Trebol admitted that they distributed the flyers to various cemeteries in the city on November 1. The document contained their letter addressed to Mayor Leonardia and a portion at the back entitled, "Kabalo bala Kamo…" narrating four facts on the dumpsite issue.
Trebol justified that they grabbed the opportunity to distribute the flyers to the cemeteries where a lot of people go in and out to visit their departed loved ones.
"We were thinking that it's the best time for a lot of people to know because this not only concerns the residents of Felisa or BAHA but Bacolod as a whole since we are talking here of garbage and water," Trebol added.
BAHA spokesperson Alan Gensoli said they are with people questioning the dumpsite and calling for its thorough study because of the presence BACIWA wells. They are suggesting that the city should consider Brgy. Cabug as suggested by different solid waste management international studies.