DUE TO LAND DISPUTE: Caluya bets accused of threatening couple

MAYORAL bet Maimai Tameta-Lim and her running mate, Janice Lim-Ilao, are accused of issuing threats against a village councilor and her husband in Panagatan Island, Caluya, Antique.

Village councilor Prescel de San Jose decried how Tameta-Lim and Ilao allegedly “intimidated and terrorized them” in the past two years.

De San Jose said she and her husband have consistently received threats every election season.

Just recently, the two officials “threatened” to drive away the couple from their hometown in Panagatan Island, located 99.7 kilometers away from Antique mainland.

Tameta-Lim has been accused of obliging planters and sea farmers in the island to pay “rent.”

This, despite the fact that Panagatan Island, home of mostly sea farmers, had been declared as a marine sanctuary by the Provincial Board of Antique in 1995 and recognized as a public domain by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the province.

The alleged threats by Tameta-Lim and Ilao has been ongoing since 2016 and worsened with the May 13, 2019 elections fast approaching.

In a petition submitted on June 14, 2016, a group of planters lamented the alleged abuses by Tameta-Lim in Panagatan Island.

The petitioners decried how their human rights are being abused by the official, even if they have been paying their “rent,” depending on the area they are occupying on the island.

They also stressed how Tameta-Lim humiliated them each time they are late on paying their “rent.” 

The planters also disclosed how they are being threatened during election season.

Apart from the planters’ petition against Tameta-Lim, a police blotter report also indicated the alleged threats by the latter.

On May 23, 2016, Tameta-Lim went inside the home of Luvimin Alicante and Alex Tandug, both residents of Panagatan Island and allegedly berated the couple.

De San Jose called for a stop to the alleged harassments by the two candidates.

Tameta-Lim and Ilao cannot be reached for comment.