FIFTEEN residents of Hacienda Alog in Barangay Pasil, E.B. Magalona expressed their concern Tuesday, July 4, about the alleged road closure every night and the order to vacate.
Vice Mayor Robert Acaling and her sister, Ma. Rissa Acaling Lacson, issued the order.
Barangay Pasil chieftain Sharon Patoc Belen said that the road closure through a barricade, which has an image of a skull and Armalite rifle, at the entrance of the main road going to the hacienda started after the Barangay elections on May 14.
She said that the affected families also presented to her the letter of the Acaling siblings dated June 4 which they received on June 24, giving them 10 days to vacate and that appropriate court case will be filed against them if they fail to do so.
The letter also reminded them that the residents were only allowed to reside in the area on conditions that they vacate when the landowner needs the area.
Belen said there are actually about 115 households in the hacienda but only 15 received the letters.
She admitted that the 15 affected residents were her leaders during the May 14 elections.
Since the affected families asked help from the barangay, she referred the matter to their mayor and other concerned government agencies for a proper solution.
Politically-motivated?
Lea Tesara, one of the affected residents, said they have been residents and laborers of the hacienda for more than 20 years. She revealed that her grandfather used to be a driver of the grandparents of Acaling.
They have been workers of Argentina Fermin Montenola and Victor Fermin, the grandparents of Acaling, she said.
She also revealed that before the May 14 Barangay elections, she was asked why they support the candidates of Mayor Marvin Malacon.
She said they wondered why Malacon and Acaling, who used to be allies, fielded competing bets for the May 14 polls.
She said that of all the residents in the barangay, only 15 of them are being ordered to vacate the hacienda.
Tesara also claimed that the hacienda has been under lease for three years already by Central Hawaiian.
For his part, Vice Mayor Acaling admitted that Lumbia Corporation, which was owned by his family, has plans to develop the 20-hectare property into a subdivision.
He said that those who were sent with the letters are no longer working in the hacienda and that they will be given compensation despite that they are considered as squatters in their property.
They were also sent notices prior to the one issued on June 4, the vice mayor added.
Acaling said that the residents will be made to vacate the area but those who are working for the hacienda will be provided with relocation site.
On the barricade and road closure, Acaling said that it has been imposed by Lumbia Corporation about two days ago after a series of hold-up incidents in the area.
"Our family would like to protect our property because we do not know who is coming in and out of the hacienda and that we also need to protect our properties and equipment from burglars."
