Councilor wants begging Badjaos out of Roxas City

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A member of the Sanggunian Panlungsod (SP) here proposed an ordinance that will ban Badjaos who beg in public.

City Councilor Midelo Ocampo clarified that the ordinance does not discriminate Badjaos from Mindanao but he was more concerned with their actions “because once you do not give them alms, some of them badmouth the people and sometimes threaten to hurt those who would not like to give alms.”

Ocampo said he once witnessed a Badjao badmouthing someone on the street.

Meanwhile, Semionette Beluso, acting chief of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), said her office had gathered the Badjao and sent them back home. But they returned months later.

Beluso said she agreed with Ocampo’s proposed ordinance to ban begging Badjaos in the city.

The CSWDO has received information that the Badjaos rented a house at Brgy. 9 here where they stay after roaming around.