Politics in a Barrio in Bataan, Philippines
Supporters of the suspended village head of Barangay Luakan here have continued to barricade the barangay hall for the 22nd day and vowed to fight off any dispersal move.
They said they would not permit first Kagawad Anna Liza Justo to hold office in the barangay hall.
“We would not allow Liza to seat as village head,” says a big streamer put up at the Luakan barangay hall.
“We would not leave no matter what happens because our barangay captain, Alfredo Santos Jr., did not commit any mistakes,” a woman protester said.
Arnel Quimado, one of the barricaders, said they would let Justo hold office at the basketball court or anywhere but not inside the barangay hall.
Justo claimed that official transactions in the village have been delayed if not paralyzed due to the barricade.
“However, we will still do it in an orderly process because we do not want to get anyone hurt,” she said in the company of four other village kagawads (councilmen).
She signs requests for barangay clearance and other papers on top of a steel chair squatting in a vacant garage.
Justo explained that Barangay Captain Santos was suspended for three months effective December 12 last year and by operation of law as first councilman, she has to take over.
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