Surigao City fish brokers file abuse of authority, harassment raps vs Mayor Dumlao
MANILA, Philippines — A conflict has erupted between fish brokers and buyers in Surigao City and the local government unit over alleged abuse of power and the unlawful eviction of brokers and buyers from their long-established fish landing area.
The building where the fish brokers and buyers have been operating was constructed in 2020, and members of the Surigao City Fish Buyers-Brokers Association Inc. (SUCFIBBA) had paid daily rental fees to the city.
READ: Municipal fishing crisis deepens
In the same year, the fish brokers and buyers constructed additional structures at the fish landing with verbal approval from then-Mayor Nitoy Matugas.
But when Mayor Paul Dumlao assumed office, he issued an executive order calling on the brokers and buyers to relocate to temporary tents, as the additional structures were set to be demolished.
Despite opposition, Dumlao allegedly ignored the fish brokers’ and buyers’ appeals against the demolition.
They were also reportedly required to submit building permits for the additional structures they neither owned nor legally controlled—and were allegedly threatened with the revocation of their business permits for noncompliance.
“For us, it felt like we were being set up to fail,” the fish brokers and buyers said.
“Even if we exhausted every effort, we still couldn’t get a building permit—because we don’t own the building. The fish landing belongs to the City LGU. How are we supposed to get a permit for something that isn’t ours? ”
The fish brokers and buyers reportedly received unsigned notices canceling their business permits due to their failure to secure building permits for the structures built three years earlier.
This prompted them to file multiple complaints with the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao against Dumlao and other officials in May and October 2023, alleging cyber libel, grave misconduct, abuse of authority, harassment, and other violations.
The case remains pending with the Ombudsman.
