MANAY, DAVAO ORIENTAL — As the municipality continues to grapple with the aftermath of a series of major earthquakes, a local citizen has spoken out against the alleged confiscation of signs made by residents appealing for help—raising concerns about freedom of expression and government response in the quake-stricken town.
In a heartfelt post, Mell Oins Bailado, a resident of Manay, recounted how men in uniform removed “karatulas” (signs) displayed along the highway. The signs were written by residents asking for any form of assistance, not out of desperation, but out of hope that their situation would be noticed.
“I just want to ask if there is really an ordinance that prohibits people from posting signs asking for help for those affected by the recent earthquake?” Bailado wrote.
“If there is such a rule, I am willing to take responsibility for it. But if there’s none, please allow me to explain what truly happened.”
Bailado said that his neighbors, who mostly rely on fishing and farming for a living, can no longer work due to the constant aftershocks that continue to shake the municipality. “We are asking for help not out of greed for relief goods, but out of concern for the days ahead,” he added.
He further lamented how the residents were allegedly insulted by the authorities who confiscated their signs.
“They told us, ‘Bawal ang karatula kay insulto daw sa Mayor,’” Bailado said. “They even asked mockingly, ‘Wala na gyud diay moy tubig og makaon dri?’—as if making light of our situation.”
Since the earthquake struck, residents claim they have not received any form of assistance—“not even a single piece of candy,” Bailado said. Many families, including children and senior citizens, remain uncertain about how long their remaining food and water supplies will last.
The incident has drawn reactions from other citizens online. One netizen commented:
“Dili sad siguro ta abot sa ani na point nga magkaratola para makapangayo ug tabang ang mga taga Manay. Kung 1st palang natagaan nag pagtagad sa Local Government, dili mangayo ug tabang ang mga tao diha kong naa palang na silay gobyerno/LGU nga naay initiative.”
(Translation: “We wouldn’t have reached this point—where residents need to make signs just to ask for help—if the local government had taken action from the start. People wouldn’t be begging for aid if they had a government that showed initiative.”)
As of press time, the local government of Manay has not yet issued any response to the allegations or clarified whether an ordinance exists that prohibits residents from displaying signs asking for help.
Bailado clarified that his statement was not meant to attack local officials, but to give voice to quake victims who continue to suffer in silence.
“We just want to be heard,” he said. “We are victims too, and we are only asking for help.”