A barangay local government unit (LGU) of Balilihan has reportedly demolished the barricade placed by Richli Corporation on a barangay road in barangay Sto. Niño, a report received by The Bohol Tribune said.
This report was confirmed by Balilihan mayor Pureza Chatto in a Facebook message on Nov. 26, 2021.
Chatto said that the barangay officials conducted a road clearing operation as they are tasked to clear roads.
Balilihan police’s Lt. Jefrin Eulogio in a telephone interview said barangay officials led by Sto. Nino Migronio Camanzo conducted the road clearing operations.
Eulogio said that he received a report saying that a road clearing operation was conducted on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 25, 2021.
He said that personnel from the Balilihan police station were on the site to provide police assistance while the barangay officials cleared the road obstruction placed by Richli Water.
“Kagahapon sa hapon nag-conduct ug clearing ang barangay [officials of] Sto. Niño nga pinanguluhan sa ilang kapitan, didto sa karsada padulong sa Bugwak Spring,” Eulogio said
It was reported that Richli Water placed a barricade with security guards on a road leading to Bugwak Spring, which the company claims to be part of its property, the police officer said.
However, the barangay officials asserted that the said area is a barangay road, Eulogio quipped.
The police officer said that he was informed that this is based on the cadastral survey that was certified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Eulogio said that the dismantled barricade was turned over to the guards hired by Richli Water. The guards are still in the vicinity as of this writing, Eulogio said.
The deployment of the police officers has the permission of the hierarchy of the Police Regional Office 7.
Moreover, Eulogio said that police officers are stationed in the area to maintain the peace and order situation and to ensure that the contractors working in the local government unit’s projects will not be impeded in their work.