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[av_heading heading=’ESPINOSA ‘BANS’ BADJAOS Beggars compromise public health – mayor ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – “Kalaw-ay gid.” So disgusting.
This was how Mayor Jose Espinosa III described mendicant Badjaos that have started flocking to the city once more as the holiday season draws near.
He ordered the Public Safety and Transportation and Management Office (PSTMO) to round up the roaming Badjaos and deport them to Mindanao.
“Kadamo sang higko nga ginahimo nila (They are dirtying the city),” said Espinosa who admitted that regulating the entry of Badjaos to the city would be difficult.
The Badjaos, widely known as “sea gypsies”, are an ethnic group scattered along the coastal areas of Tawi Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, and some coastal municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“They defecate anywhere. Public health and sanitation are being compromised,” said Espinosa.
Conflict in Mindanao between Muslim separatists and government troops have forced many of the Badjaos to seek refuge elsewhere.
“Kun mangayo-ngayo sila nagapamilit pa kag nagapamutong, so kalaw-ay gid (They force people to give them alms, it’s so disgusting),” said Espinosa.
The city government will strictly enforce the anti-mendicancy ordinance, the mayor stressed.
Begging and giving alms to beggars are punishable under City Regulation Ordinance 2002-400.
Mendicants are liable to fines of P500, imprisonment of not more than a year, or both fine and imprisonment. On the other hand, giving to beggars is punishable by a fine of P500 or community service.
In previous years, according to Espinosa, mendicant Badjaos had “sponsors” or people backing them up and to whom they shared a portion of the alms collected.
“I don’t know if they still practice this scheme,” said the mayor.
Under City Regulation Ordinance 2002-400, any person, syndicate or group who utilize and exploit minors, disabled and infirm persons in the mendicancy trade shall suffer a penalty of P2,000 in fine and imprisonment of not less than two months.
PSTMO head Jeck Conlu sought an emergency meeting with the City Legal Office yesterday to discuss the legal aspect of the mayor’s order to round up the Badjaos.
He would also be coordinating with the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), said Conlu.
“We do not want to violate the Badjaos’ right to travel,” he explained.
But Conlu stressed the PSTMO would certainly round them up.
The Badjaos would be profiled then assisted to the seaport of Dumangas, Iloilo where a ship would take them back to Mindanao.
Conlu his office would be getting in touch with the Philippine Coast Guard to facilitate the Badjaos’ trip.
They won’t be made to pay for their fare, he stressed.
In 2005 during the administration of then mayor Mansueto Malabor, the city government created Task Force Badjao to help the Badjaos return to Mindanao.
The Badjaos, however, kept on returning to the city.
Aside from City Regulation Ordinance 2002-400, Presidential Decree (PD) 1563 also prohibits mendicancy. It defines a mendicant as any person who has no visible and legal means of support, or lawful employment and who is physically able to work but neglects to apply himself to some lawful calling and instead uses begging as a means of living.
The decree applies to all mendicants, and exploited infants or children who are eight years old and below.
Minors found begging are covered by PD 603 of the Child and Youth Welfare Code. Parents of exploited infants and children are also criminally liable under Article 59 and 60 of PD 603./PN
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