ILIGAN CITY -- Twenty-four individuals, led by a person they call their “Queen Majesty”, were arrested on Saturday, December 26, after they allegedly took over a school property in Barangay Ditucalan here.
The group, called Kingdom Filipina Hacienda-Automatic Monarchy, was led by Salvacion Legaspi, as they took over the Francisca Paradela Legazpi Memorial School in Barangay Ditucalan without permission from the owner.
Legaspi, who introduced herself as “queen majesty” of the group, claimed to own the Philippines.
In taking over the school premises, the group members also brought with them their personal belongings, such as beds, pillows, and blankets, as well as rice cookers, and laptop computers, among others.
Iligan City Police Station (ICPS) 2 personnel, together with the barangay officials and the school’s principal, tried to convince the intruders to leave the school premises at around 10 a.m. Saturday, but they refused.
This prompted the ICPS 2 personnel, accompanied by a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, Barangay Ditucalan Chairperson Hasmin Pates, and School Principal Danilo Vasquez Salvo, to enter the school at around 4 p.m.
The lawmen also arrested the intruders.
Legaspi, 70, was arrested along with Irish Malaki Galanida, 34; Anna Herica Bautolo Castillon, 20; Lovely Joy Pactol Madjus, 28; Ifania Bautolo Castillon, 52; Angelita Pesiao Aquilar, 62; Dorilyn Thalliger Mocorro, 46; Rowena Indac Daligdig, 44; Evelyn Boco Dela Pena, 43, Tomas Cabili, Desiree Escoto Geronal, 19, Abubacar Diaz Limgas, Blas Codriga Altamero, 60; Rey Velasquez. Madjos, 22; Frabcis Bucao Duayao, 49; Jerry Bido Castillon, 53; Guillermo Bahian Madjos, 62; Felipe Codriga; Rogen Sinto Dionaldo, 26; Ricarte Velasquez Madjos, 33; Ramile Ceniza Mending, 52; Rolando Mahusay Flores, 55; Jemar Donio, 32; Rojan Lumingkit Cabasag, 26, and Jesabeth Gerona..
"Nakiusap ang mga babaeng kasamahan (ni Legaspi) na hindi lang lagyan ng posas ang kanilang 'queen' pero mga wild man. Inagaw ang posas at itinapon, sinisipa ang mga babaeng pulis (The female members asked that their ‘queen’ (Legaspi) not be handcuffed. But they were wild, they grabbed the handcuffs, threw it, and even kicked the policewomen)", said ICPS-2 Officer-in-Charge Maj Rixell C. Torayno.
Torayno said the family of Legaspi donated the land where the school was erected, but he also pointed out that half of the cost in constructing the school was paid for by the local government.
"Mayrong mga dokumento na iyon ini-insist nila, nagpapatotoo na sila ang nagmamay-ari ng buong Pilipinas, Iligan City in particular, inangkin talaga nila (They had documents, which were saying that they own the whole Philippines, Iligan City in particular, they are claiming to own)", Torayno said in an interview.
Legaspi’s group is based at what they call as “Royal Castle” based in Barangay Pala-o, and they maintain their own Tribunal Rural Bank, and have their own currency called “euro”.
Legaspi and her followers were taken to ICPS 2 for detention as charges of trespassing, and resistance and disobedience to persons in authority were being prepared against the group.
Meanwhile, Legaspi refused to comment on the matter.