Residents in 30 households right outside Camp Alagar where the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) sits in Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro are protesting the closure of an access road that leads to their compound.
Residents were caught by surprise when PRO-10 personnel put up a gate and padlocked the same on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
While the compound is no longer part of the camp, the residents, especially those who own vehicles, used the access road that traverses the camp to exit and returned to their compound.
“Lisod pud sa amoa inig naay emergency wala gyud mi lain ma-access nga dalan kana ra gyud sya karon kay gipadlock dako gyud kayo namo nga problema ug perwisyo,” a resident said.
PRO-10 Director, Brigadier General Ricardo Layug Jr, reportedly ordered the road closure.
“Muhangyo lang mi sa amoang General diri si Regional Director namo nga unta matagaan mi og oras lang nga makasulod o gawas lang ang among sakyanan mga pareho sa ilang gibuhat nga alas 10 sa gabie ila na isirado agree mi ana pagka alas 5 sa buntag abli napud para sa sakyanan,” another resident added.
Because of the closure, residents are left with no choice but to use a small alley to get in and out of the compound.
Their complaint has been forwarded to the barangay council and the latter has already sent a letter to the officials of PRO-10 for a dialogue.
“We are talking about lives of individuals nga mga residente sa Brgy. Lapasan. We hope to achieve is kanang ginatawag nato nga peaceful proposal and settlement among people involved,” Barangay Treasurer and Spokesperson, Jeoffrey Baconga, said.
For its part, PRO-10 said the move to close the access road is due to the implementation of stricter security around the camp.
“We are talking about Police Regional Office 10, regional office kana sa atong kapulisan ug importante kaayo nga ma-regulate nato ang mga mosulod o gawas nga mga sakyanan o di ba kaha tao. One entry, one exit policy, mao kana ang naa sa atubangan sa atoang kampo,” PRO-10 Spokesperson, Major Joann Navarro, said.
