The State Of A Barangay

Written on Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 7:00 pm | by Letters To Editor

Editor’s Note: The following is a submission from Julie a concerned citizen of Barangay Capipisa of Cavite. In featuring this article, we are hoping to focus not only on the details of the situation, but how it may be representative of other barangays in The Philippines.

Within the Barangay Capipisa,Tanza.Cavite there is a trend that in itself is pure corruption and dereliction of duty by the so called Barangay Officials, this statement is made due to the following facts that are observed everyday and night. This is not a blatant report of the Barangay Officials and the criminal element within this Barangay, but a question as to “why” the authorities allow it to happen?

So firstly the facts and never ending saga of Barangay Capipisa..

The Barangay Officials are a few of the local residents who, seemingly do this in their spare time, like wear the “Official” Barangay Black jacket when it suits them or collecting the “Lagay” from trucks (20 pesos entry fee) that enter the Barangay along i might add a “public road”. The Official Barangay vehicle is a broken down tricycle with “No plates or registration, no lights no mirrors” and of course used as the local run around for all the Barangay’s friends and family. So, when you want it in an Emergency its either, “unavailable or broken down”.

When an “incident” happens the Barangay officials are called, like the fight on Friday night, whereby one of the Barangay officials was carrying a 12 gauge shotgun, he was spotted unloading it after it went quiet after the incident, so the question here is, isn’t it illegal for any Barangay official to be carrying a firearm? As no license is granted to Barangay officials other than the Barangay Captain, according to Barangay Laws??

Now then, when a “Incident” happens, unless you are one of the friends, family or one of the “Gang”, the barangay officials will not do anything regarding your complaint, in fact most of the time they sit in the Barangay hall and watch tv, sit outside and just talk or stay home.

Like when the “Gang: of Akow and Puti are involved the Barangay officials respond within seconds, anyone else it can take 15 minutes or more…even longer!

The Criminal Element of Barangay Capipisa….

The various Criminal Elements of Barangay Capipisa consist of the local “Standby” which consist mainly of the local layabouts that reside and or stay close to Akow and Puti’s house and the Videoke next to them. They are the ones who have been caught so many times throwing rocks on peoples roofs, smoking drugs, selling drugs and ignoring Barangay, police and Health authority orders. Even suspected of killings.

They have thrown “Pillboxes” at stores. broken expensive sliding windows of the residents, built kubos alongside the road for their “Habits” and to hide in at night. Destroyed 300sqm of Private land by cutting all the trees and shrubs down and the fences so they can put their stands and nets to dry their fish, throw the fish guts and residue along side the road creating a factory of disease and the stink is quite unbearable to nearby residents. Rats have now increased and so have the rats size, from common brown rats to the large Black variety invade our homes.

One local resident, a foreigner, who rarely goes out or mixes with the local criminal elements has had 4 of his 5 sliding windows broken by them, a 22 caliber bullet fired through one of his windows, hollow blocks thrown over his gate, nail studded wood thrown at his wife and child, frequent rocks on the roof and abuse shouted at him and his family. Not to mention that his neighbor reported him (which turned out to be fabricated lies) for having guns in his house and supposedly chasing the local kids up and down the road with an M16. All of which went to the courts and the case was dismissed as no guns were found and no evidenced produced.

And in all this the Barangay officials have done nothing to either solve the crimes or reduce them!

So the question is, why do the authorities allow this to happen? Why doesn’t someone investigate the criminal element here and make Barangay Capipisa a decent place to live, free from the criminals and the constant stink of fish guts.

Why does a PNP Officer live next door to a known Drug User/Supplier and do nothing?

The same officer also bought the rights for a small lot to build his house from another known drug supplier.

Makes one wonder doesnt it……

And of course this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg….

Tags: , ,
Add to del.icio.us | Digg this! | Yahoo MyWeb | Google Bookmark It! | Stumble It!
About The Author: Letters To Editor are the articles and emails that have been sent to Filipino Voices.

Filed Under Local News, Society

Related Entries:

Comments

6 Responses to “The State Of A Barangay”

  1. DJB Rizalist on July 27th, 2008 8:41 pm

    This is an allegory for the state of the whole nation, from the kanto-boy character of officialdom to the xenophobic myanmarism against foreigners who actually make common cause with our plight.

    The Rats are actually few, yet the Sheep are many, and their Shepherds are busy mumbling incantations over divine crackers.

  2. julie on July 28th, 2008 8:42 am

    Is it also all over the nation that the “FREE” public schools “Demand” a “Enrollment Fee” Demand that you pay 2 pesos per child to pay the electricity in the school, demand that your child stands up in class whilst the others sit down to eat the food purchased from the private food supplier, (they have to stand up as punishment for NOT buying the food)! As if you dont comply to the Principles Demands “Your” child is ignored in the classroom! Well Capipisa Elementary School Does !!

  3. julie on July 28th, 2008 9:48 am

    the saga continues
    Having now been able to gather further information regarding the “Friday Night” fight (25Jul) the woman who owns the corner store had a rock thrown at her by the Son of Akow and Puti, his name is Egroy, the damage caused to her head was a 2 1/2 inch cut, which was treated by the hospital in Naic. Meanwhile during the said incident the Barangay Tanod were standing by watching, waiting and unloading their 12 gauge shotgun. But they arrested “No one”, made no attempt to find the said culprit, who by the way has now gone into hiding, in fact the Barangay Tanods appearance was a complete waste of time.
    Is this also common to all barangays??

  4. Nick on July 28th, 2008 11:12 am

    Julie, what has been the police response in all of this? And please clarify Akow and Puti?

  5. julie on July 28th, 2008 3:41 pm

    Akow (father)and Puti(Mother) are the Parents of the guy who threw the rock at the female store owner, The son “Egroy” is about 25 years old?

    The police response was, first the Barangay must issue a form (131a?) filled in by the Barangay “Before” the police can act, as they will NOT act until this happens.

    Today the store owner asked the Barangay for a “BPO” that is a “Barangay Protection Order” to stop any further violence against her. The Barangay did not even know what it was…..

  6. Zeny Yexley on August 1st, 2008 7:54 pm

    My husband and i are interested in buying a beach front lot in Capipisa, it does not sound like a good idea?

Leave a Reply