• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The municipal government of La Castellana in Negros Occidental urged the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who vacated their evacuation center in the poblacion to return to their temporary shelters amid the continuing unrest of Mt. Kanlaon.
Thirty-seven of the 76 families left their evacuation at the La Castellana National High School-Senior High School campus without seeking permission from the authorities.
Vice Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan aired the suspicion that somebody may have instigated the IDPs to return to their homes in Barangay Cabagna-an.
The Office of Civil Defense allows residents to enter the six-kilometer permanent danger zone, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., to carry out essential activities.
Mangilimutan said the authorities manning the checkpoints will not allow the IDPs to return to their respective homes.
Mangilimutan and her brother Mayor Añejo Nicor met with members of the Regional Incident Management Team, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine National Police and other government agencies to address the problem of the fleeing IDPs.
“We are calling the attention of the person who took video of the IDPs while getting back home and posted it on Facebook reels to (submit) a written explanation or appear personally to our IMT or Punong Barangay Bon Sacapaño within 24 hours,” a statement from the La Castellana municipal government said.
“You are also encouraged to take down or delete your post/vlog on social media,” it added. | GB
