Sigma Private Cemetery Under Review Amid Complaint

By Felipe V. Celino

SIGMA, Capiz – A proposed private cemetery in Barangay Amaga is set to become operational as its owner processes the necessary documents and requirements.

Antonio Bidiones told Daily Guardian that all legal and regulatory requirements are underway.

Bidiones made the statement in response to a complaint filed by Porferio Marcelino Javier Jr. of Barangay Amaga with the Office of the Mayor, requesting permission to bury a deceased relative in the said cemetery.

The request was denied on the grounds that the cemetery is exclusive to Bidiones’ family.

Javier then questioned the legality of the cemetery and cited several requirements needed for it to operate.

Bidiones admitted that while some requirements are being processed, others have yet to be completed.

He considered Javier’s complaint an act of harassment, claiming the latter was looking for loopholes to justify the denied request.

Bidiones said the 300-square-meter cemetery was allowed by his grandfather in the 1980s for exclusive family use.

Since then, several relatives have been buried there, as the existing Catholic cemetery along the national highway has become overcrowded.

He added that the family has consistently paid taxes on the property since its establishment.

“Javier is not related to us, so he cannot use the cemetery,” Bidiones said.

Meanwhile, the local government of Sigma is fast-tracking the construction of a new public cemetery located about one kilometer from the existing Catholic cemetery.

Bidiones currently serves as the secretary of the Sangguniang Bayan of Sigma.