BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez here is awaiting the response of Mayor Jerry Treñas regarding his appeal to lift the executive order declaring Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran person non-grata over the uncoordinated transfer of Badjaos from this city to Iloilo City last month.
BENITEZ (FB) In a press briefing on Monday, July 3, Benitez said that “technically, there were lapses and it’s not the vice mayor’s doing.” The transport of Badjaos back to Mindanao through Iloilo sparked a word war between Familiaran and Treñas after the Iloilo City mayor expressed dismay over the lack of proper coordination on the Bacolod vice mayor regarding this matter. Some 80 Badjaos arrived at Dumangas port in Iloilo on June 16 after they were rounded up by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) here on June 21. They were supposed to be sent home to Jolo, Sulu through a Roll-on, Roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) Port here, passing through Iloilo. Familiaran had earlier clarified that the destination of the vessel was not direct to Iloilo City. He also apologized to Treñas because of the action of the Badjaos.
FAMILIARAN (FB) Benitez had issued sincere apologies to the city government of Iloilo and Treñas for the blunder. Because of this incident, these Badjaos were sent back here on June 24 via a Ro-Ro vessel from Dumangas and were transported by a Ceres Liner bus to Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, then to Zamboanga, the following day. Fifty-two more Badjaos were also sent back to Mindanao on June 30, according to the city government. This is the city government’s way to address the problem since Badjaos were using their children for begging on the street and inside passenger jeepneys, which is very dangerous for their safety.