Mayor Jerry Treñas declared on Friday, June 23, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran as persona non grata in Iloilo City.
In an executive order (EO), Treñas tagged Familiaran as “undesirable and unwelcome” in the city “for his role in the uncoordinated and poorly planned transfer of the Badjaos to their respective domiciles.”
“While the Iloilo City Government does not discriminate against nor feel any indifference against the Badjaos, the undersigned strongly abhors the act of [Familiaran] in his capacity as [acting city mayor] to have ordered the transfer of the Badjaos to Iloilo City despite lack of coordination and communication with the supposed LGUs (local government units) involved especially with the [city government],” EO No. 083 stated.
“That in view of the uncoordinated transfer, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) was unable to effectively prepare for the arrival of more than 80 Badjaos which inevitably hampered the services that the Office could provide,” it further stated.
According to a report by the Philippine News Agency, the Badjaos traveled on Wednesday, June 21, from Bredco port in Bacolod on board a roll-on, roll-off vessel bound for the port of Dumangas, Iloilo.
“They were sent off by personnel of the Department of Social Services and Development and officials of various barangays here back home to Mindanao via Panay Island, but it turned out they proceeded to Iloilo City and stayed there instead,” the report said.
In a media interview, Familiaran said the Badjaos were booked on a Jolo-bound roll-on-roll-off vessel that had docked in Dumangas Port.
“They promised to go home. It’s not our intention that these individuals will proceed to Iloilo City. They docked in Dumangas port and we expected them to go home directly to their homeland in Mindanao,” he told reporters.IMT
