BORACAY – Twenty-nine humanitarian volunteers were not allowed to enter this island resort to distribute relief goods among residents over the weekend, according to Rise Up Aklan head Kim Sin Tugna.
Tugna claimed that police security forces blocked them from entering the island through Tabon port in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan on June 29.
The volunteers – composed of teachers, students and scientists – are members of various organizations and institutions, such as Friends of Boracay, Rise Up Aklan, We Are Boracay, Boracay Christian Church, Bloomfield Integrated Academy, and Boracay Island Global Academy.
“Nakipag-coordinate naman kami sa Department of Social Welfare and Development at sa interagency task force ilang araw bago ang schedule ng distribution,” said Tugna. “Nagugutom at naghihintay ang mga tao sa Boracay tapos may blockade pa.”
The volunteers scheduled a three-day relief mission in Boracay, from June 29 to July 1.
Tugna said it was supposed to be the third time that they conduct the mission in the island. The first two were in April and May.
She added that during the previous missions, they did not encounter any conflict, such as the alleged blockade.
“Malisyoso ang tingin nila sa amin – ng mga pulis sa Boracay. Akala nila may recruitment kami. Nais namin sa humanitarian mission groups na makatulong sa mga dislocated workers at residents dahil sa state of calamity,” stressed Tugna.
In a statement, We Are Boracay coordinator Olive Abanera condemned the alleged blockade.
“Is it wrong to feed the hungry? Is it wrong nowadays to struggle for our survival? Why do they consider humanitarian volunteers as security threats? With hundreds of armed police and military personnel deployed in the island, are they hiding something that is why they are blocking our mission volunteers?” Abanera said.
The Metro Boracay Police Task Force has yet issue a statement regarding the allegations as of this writing. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
