The controversial street-dwelling Badjaos, who were sent back to Bacolod City on Saturday, were on their way to Zamboanga via Dumaguete City on Sunday, June 25.
Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas declared Acting Bacolod Mayor El Cid Familiaran persona non grata on Friday for the “uncoordinated and poorly planned” transfer of 80 Badjaos who arrived in his city on Wednesday, June 21.
The 80 Badjaos from Bacolod disembarked at the Dumangas Port in Iloilo instead of continuing their journey to Mindanao as was intended because of coordination lapses by the city social welfare personnel, Familiaran said.
Treñas said 74 of the Badjaos were transported back to Bacolod City from Dumangas on Saturday.
“Proper coordination was made with the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development). The families will be transported by Ceres to Dumaguete then to Zamboanga. As a responsible Local Government Unit, Iloilo City will complete what others have only attempted to do halfway,” he said.
Bacolod City Administrator Pacifico Maghari said they only received 72 Badjaos from Iloilo on Saturday, who were given shelter at the Vista Alegre youth center before being brought to Dumaguete Sunday to board a vessel for Zamboanga.
They were escorted by social welfare and police personnel on their trip to Dumaguete to board a vessel for Zamboaga, he said.
Asked if he had forgiven Familiaran, Treñas said “I have not received his apology for the lapses. I have never ever done anything against Bacolod City. I only reacted when Iloilo was made as a dumping ground for undesirables in Bacolod”.
He said they will also rescue the remaining Badjaos who are still in Iloilo.
On Friday Treñas accepted the apology of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who was out of the country, for the incident.
Familiaran said the DSWD was shouldering the transportation cost of the Badjaos back to Zamboanga.
According to the data of the Bacolod Department of Social Services and Development only 15 of the Badjaos who arrived from Iloilo were part of the 80 from Bacolod, Familiaran said.
In fact some had school identification cards and business clearances from Iloilo, he said.
Familiaran said he did not speak to Treñas since Benitez has already gotten into the picture.
“I will not stoop down to his level,” he reiterated.*