Lilo-an residents and fisherfolks hold a rally at the Catarman bridge to protest the fencing of the Silot Bay by the Mendozas, who owns a portion of the bay. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
The Mendoza family are encouraging the fisherfolks and residents of Liloan town to channel their grievances to the proper forum and the family will gladly meet them.
This was the family’s response to the fisherfolks and residents of Liloan town who promised to continue holding protests until ownership of Silot Bay will be returned to the people.
Art Barrit, spokesman of the Mendoza family, said they just exercised “maximum tolerance” in dealing with protesters last Sunday.
“We just don’t want to engage in violence. We want to avoid that,” he said in a phone interview.
In 1954, labor leader Democrito Mendoza secured a permit to put up a fish pond in Silot Bay.
The fishermen in the place protested the loss of the Silot Bay which they said has been their “communal fishing ground.”
The lower court rendered a decision in favor of the fishermen, but the Court of Appeals as well as the Supreme Court ruled that the Mendozas are the rightful owner of the Silot Bay.
Last month, the Mendozas decided to construct a fence on Silot Bay which drew the ire of fishermen and residents of the place who could no longer swim into the waters.
Protesters wearing Free Silot Bay shirts enjoy the scenery from t the Catarman Bridge. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Barrit said the family eventually heeded the order of Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco Frasco to remove the fence that was being constructed in Silot Bay.
“That was our commitment to remove the posts, after our meeting with the mayor,” he said.
Barrit said people “may now swim” in Silot Bay whenever they wanted to.
Residents however said that they were not content with just the removal of the fence from Silot Bay.
Elvira Arañas, whose family owns a beach resort along Silot Bay, said they will hold demonstrations every weekend to ask the Supreme Court to reverse its 2007 decision and take away
the ownership of the bay from the Mendozas.
Mayor Duke Frasco is set to have a meeting with Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III on Feb. 14 to discuss about the Silot Bay issue.
Barrit said they had not received any invitation to the meeting, but if they would be invited they would attend.