Talisay residents air gripes against road block

AT LEAST 50 residents in Barangay Pooc, Talisay City claimed that a pathway leading to their homes was blocked by a city councilor who happens to own a resort there.

Residents of Sitio Cainta in Pooc went in droves before the office of Mayor Eduardo Gullas to complain against Councilor Doroteo Emit.

Emit, who owns Aqua Cainta Resort, allegedly prevented residents living behind his establishment from using a pathway that they of- ten used to get to their houses from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Even though he admitted to blocking the pathway, Emit told reporters that he has the right to do so because the pathway is part of his private property.

Blocked

In an interview yesterday, Raquel Bumaya, one of the affected residents, claimed that Emit allegedly prevented them from using the pathway, which they have been using for more than a decade.

Bumaya claimed that she has been living in the area for so many years, yet it was the first time this month that she was prevented from using the pathway to get to her house.

She and other affected residents claimed that they found difficulty in using that alternate pathway just beside Emit’s gate as it does not have a proper footpath and is situated in a canal.

She also claimed that Emit allegedly blocked them from using the pathway be- cause they didn’t support him in his bid for city councilor during the May elections.

Explanation

Emit, in a separate interview, said that aside from the pathway situated in his property, there was originally a barangay road made there but was blocked by a resident who put up structures on the road.

Emit said that he even sued the resident and eventually won the case. But the case, according to Emit, was appealed by the resident.

But Emit explained that not all residents living in Sitio Cainta were barred from passing his gate.

He said that he only barred two families from using the pathway due to the request of some residents living there.

Emit disclosed that he decided to put up the gate after one of the residents, who was physically disabled, was not able to use the pathway because of the structures being put up by the disgruntled residents.

While the disgruntled residents failed to meet with Gullas yesterday, Emit said he was willing to explain his side to the mayor.

Emit also urged the disgruntled residents to first talk to the residents who prevented their entry in the first place and settle the matter with them.

He also urged barangay officials to fix the barangay road there as it cannot be properly used due to the presence of concrete fences that block its way.