Road that connects, not holds people hostage

There are roads that take you home. And then there’s the one in Purok Casanihan, Barangay Macambol, City of Mati, Davao Oriental that has served communities since the 1960s that has reportedly been turned into a private toll road.

The Dawan-Mamali-Macambol-Magum Road connects Barangay Macambol Proper to Supsupon 1, 2, and 3, Catmonan 1 and 2, and the four puroks of Sitio Magum. For generations, farmers, workers, students, delivery drivers, ordinary people and motorists have freely used this provincial road.

Now, a makeshift barrier reportedly blocks the road, with passage supposedly costing anywhere from P1,000 to P15,000 one way, depending on who is passing and how much those manning the checkpoint demand.

On 21 July, City Mayor Joel Mayo Z. Almario reportedly issued a permit for a “peaceful rally” on the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights. What supposedly followed was the setting up of a 24-hour checkpoint manned by alleged rebel returnees, where motorists had to pay to use the public road.

A peaceful rally, apparently, can look a lot like extortion with extra steps.

And this didn’t happen overnight. An unsigned letter reportedly sent to Hallmark Mining Corporation in December 2025 announced that a barricade would be put up starting January 2026.

The blockade was reportedly established by a certain Claridel “Baranday” Lincoln, who claimed ownership of a portion of the provincial road but has yet to present legitimate documents supporting his claim.

No legal basis has been presented publicly, yet there’s a barrier, people controlling access, and motorists being told to pay up.

There was a troubling incident that showed how far things had gone on the evening of 4 November.

A group was reportedly prevented from passing through after they came from Hallmark Mining Corporation’s office in Magum. The driver, passengers, and vehicle were held because they supposedly needed a permit to pass. When the passengers explained that they had visited Sakura Resort instead, they were told to produce a slip from the resort owner as proof.

After an hour of negotiation, the passengers were left with no choice but to get off and walk along a dark, unlit, dusty road to find their way back to Mati City. Imagine being stranded like that, with nowhere to turn and no clear way home.

Meanwhile, the driver and the rented vehicle were eventually allowed to leave past 11 p.m., reportedly after paying a discounted fee of P1,000 instead of P5,000. A bargain, I suppose.

The real concern, however, goes beyond the money. It’s the people affected.

A few months ago, a city government garbage truck was reportedly turned away, disrupting waste collection. A sick resident, reportedly a relative of the checkpoint operator, was allegedly denied passage and failed to reach the hospital. Even a DENR vehicle on its way to the mining area for an inspection was reportedly stopped.

Garbage trucks, government vehicles, visitors, and emergency responders could all face restrictions simply because they cannot meet the checkpoint’s demands. If you’re not on the approved list or don’t have the money, you’re apparently not getting through.

Hallmark Mining Corporation, recognized by the city government as Mati’s No. 1 taxpayer in 2025, is reportedly experiencing the same treatment. Its vehicles have been stopped, questioned, and denied passage. If a company that pays its taxes and operates within the rules can face these restrictions, what more ordinary farmers, students, delivery drivers, and families rushing a sick loved one to the hospital?

Of course, bigger issues are at play. Mining, indigenous peoples’ rights, environmental concerns, property claims, and economic interests deserve serious attention. People have every right to raise concerns and demand answers. But none of these issues justifies turning a public road into a private toll road and preventing people from getting where they need to go.

Residents have spoken up time and again, but calls to address the roadblock have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.

That is why a community petition now circulating matters. It isn’t picking a fight or pointing fingers. It simply asks the government to investigate the reported incidents, establish the road’s legal status, determine who has the authority to restrict access, ensure emergency vehicles can pass, and take appropriate action.

The petition isn’t declaring anyone guilty. It is only asking for something basic — fairness, due process, and a lawful resolution.

Section 16 of the Local Government Code upholds public safety and the general welfare, while the Constitution guarantees due process and equal protection. Land disputes should be settled through proper legal channels, not through makeshift barriers, arbitrary restrictions, and demands for thousands of pesos just to pass.

If there’s a land dispute, let the courts settle it. If people have complaints, there are proper ways to raise them. But blocking a public road, demanding excessive fees, and stopping people from passing through is not peaceful protest but plain intimidation, so to speak.

The people of Barangay Macambol deserve better service — a road that connects them to opportunities, not one that holds them hostage. They deserve a government that listens, responds to their concerns, and protects their rights.

Here’s hoping the City of Mati, the Barangay Council of Macambol, the City Police, the City Legal Office, and everyone concerned take the petition seriously.

A public road that has served communities for more than 60 years should not become a private cash machine for a few individuals and disrupt people trying to make a decent living.

Not on anyone’s watch.