Mayor Cris Garbo told Punto that the seven victims were among the 20 personnel from the city government and police who were put in charge of transporting the Badjaos back to their tribes in Region 9 a week ago.
“It seemed they were overwhelmed by the food in a restaurant there and seven of them had to be hospitalized,” he said.
Reports said the victims ate oysters in a restaurant in Zamboanga City before they were supposed to head back to this city.
Locals who also ate at the restaurant were also reported to have been poisoned. Garbo said four of the victims, who are city government employees, were released by the hospital in Zamboanga after several hours.
“One cop had to remain in the hospital because he needed further hydration. I asked two of his colleagues from our police office to stay with him in the Zambaonga hospital, so they have yet to return,” he added.
The cop whom he did not identify, has since gone home.
Garbo said he allocated a sum for each Badjao family to enable them to go back to their tribes, as he expressed hope they would fare better there rather than in this city where they thrived mostly from begging.
“I had ordered a very humane treatment for the Badjaos. They underwent medical examinations and were asked to take showers before they were boarded on bus to the port where they boarded a ship back to their hometowns,” Garbo said.
To discourage the Badjaos from returning, Garbo ordered the demolition of their shanties.
Before the Badjaos left, however, one of their leaders pointed to a site under some shanties which he asked not to be disturbed because it functioned as a cemetery for the Badjao community.
A city social worker was earlier reported to have received threats in connection with plans to relocate local Badjaos.
The threat reportedly emanated from one of the tribal leaders who profited from the begging activities of the minority folk.
There are reports, however, that some Badjaos skirted Garbo’s project and have made their way to the City of San Fernando where they have again resorted to begging.
