ILIGAN City ― There they go again, the "fencers." In earlier times, men involved in fencing were romanticized. The winners of such battles involving swords were given handsome prizes. Like given some beautiful women. Or power Or much money. That's how I understood them.

Am not talking of such kind of fencing, which is a kind of duel to death. Am talking about surrounding some areas with enclosures... Which signifies "ownership" of the enclosed area. Didn't they say, "You cannot claim victory unless you occupy the territory"?

And so reports said that a group who called themselves members of a certain Ashley Realty Corporation from out of the blue materialized and then occupied some portions of the city. Because they claimed they were the real owners, not the ones who had occupied them. But the occupants didn't take them sitting down. And with the help of some powers that be, were driven out of those areas.

That was a few months ago, this year. They were reported to claim that the "true owner" of those lands was one Lucrecia Sacal, of barangay Bagong Silang. Hence, their right to do so, meaning they had to assert such right.

This time though the group has returned. And doing some fencing. And this time, with a vengeance. As per a report of a city officer, Ralph Oblenda, head of ''Oplan Disiplina" this time, within the enclosures are the "barracks".

It was learned that the fencing was done with ease as this time, they fenced those with no structures or houses. Ah,. so…The areas were at San Miguel barangay, and one also at Tubod, another barangay near Robinson's mall.

They didn't do anything about it, I understand, on the physical side. The official said that they just went to the legal and they were advised to do things like these, "legally".

It was then learned that before fencing, there must be some fencing permit, to justify such fencing. And come up with documents, like title to said area, or payment of the right taxes on them. etc.

But they didn't do so. They just materialized there, I suppose. Like some mushrooms that have sprung up in some areas in the morning after some rain and thundering moments during the night.

Some side stories about mushrooms. My friend Lynlyn told me one time that she had experienced a type of mushroom that came out below her doorstep at their home in Davao City, that looked like "hands longing to hold you." Her family she said, decided to destroy them. For what kind of mushrooms were they?

Anyway, I also saw in one episode of a TV program, called KMJS (I know you all know what this stands for) some guys picked some mushrooms in an area somewhere in Luzon and gave them the effect that if they ate them, they felt like they were in heaven. Meaning, these were addictive? Like marijuana? Yet one was reported to have died because of them? Eating too much of them? Like in the song, ''Too much love will kill you?"

Anyway too, these people there who have "mushroomed" overnight are still there. Doing "the occupation."

I remember too of my friend Fely's story. That one day, her family received a letter from a resident of the same area where her family was living in Tambo, a purok in a barangay here, claiming that they did not own the area they were living on. The letter sender was the one who owned it and they should pay her some "rental." She had some documents or "proof" to the ownership which she also showed me. When I looked at the attachment to the letter, there was written of a "cooperative" based in Luzon and of which the letter writer was a member. What? A resident of this city, being a member of a cooperative in Luzon and giving her the "right" to assert ownership of some land and structure!

There was also a map of the area, which too was not understandable.

So, Fely and her family did not give a darn about such claim. And this time, I heard there are other claimants too of their area and their neighbors. Although not of the fencing kind.

I though think that the city, in the meantime, has downplayed this matter. For at this point in time, the focus is in the month long city fiesta and tourism month. Uhm, but excuse me. I"ve got to accompany my friend Fely doing some Marites regarding the matter…

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