Iligan City Barangay Officials Paid to Oppose MOA-AD

August 16, 2008 

An unimpeachable source who insists that his name be not mentioned for security reasons has disclosed to Luwaran that officials of the eight (8) barangays of Iligan City which have been included in the territory of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) have been paid to oppose the MILF-GRP Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).

The eight Moro-dominated barangays are: Digkilaan, Dulag, Hindang, Kalilangan, Lanipao, Mainit, Panorogonan and Rogongan. 

According to the source, the barangay captains and officials of these underdeveloped barangays have disclosed to him that they were paid by people in the city government and promised more ‘cash assistance’ if they join the opposition to the MOA-AD. Accordingly, they were made to attend rallies and speak out against the MOA-AD organized by city officials.

These barangay officials also told the source that although they were pressured into accepting the cash offer by people from City Hall, they very much secretly welcome the inclusion of their Moro barangays into the BJE.
 
Meanwhile, further according to the source, officials and residents of another mixed Moro-indigenous people-dominated barangay also of Iligan City that was not included in the BJE feel dismayed that they were not included in the BJE. They were asking the source to make representation to the MILF Negotiating Panel to have their barangay included in the BJE. The source withheld meantime the name of the barangay concerned, saying he does not want to complicate the situation in Iligan City. But, he also said, the wishes of the people of this barangay should be addressed in the future.