San Remigio residents appeal for American national’s swift deportation

RESIDENTS of Purok Mahigugmaon, Barangay Punta in San Remigio, Cebu have demanded for the swift deportation of an American national whom they accused of causing trouble, disturbing the peace, and threatening the lives of locals in the community.The residents identified the foreign national as 67-year-old Sunny Miller, who was arrested in May 2022 by Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives due to numerous complaints from his neighbors.The neighbors have been accusing Miller of being an “undesirable alien” for overstaying and lack of working permits.More than a month after his arrest, though, residents were dismayed to find Miller back in San Remigio despite him being declared a “persona non grata” (unwelcome) by the barangay and municipality.The BI said the foreigner was able to post bail.ApprehensionIn a statement on May 31, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he issued a mission order for Miller’s arrest after the bureau received a complaint from barangay officials that the foreigner had been causing trouble in the area.The barangay officials added that the American had been engaging in business activities “without the appropriate permit and visa in blatant violation of our immigration laws.”BI Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said Miller is facing a summary deportation case as an overstaying alien with complaints of harassment and intimidation, occupying land in the coastal area of the barangay, and depriving fisherfolk of the use of the property for fishing and other livelihood activities.Manahan said officials of Barangay Punta had also passed a resolution declaring Miller persona non grata “for acts contrary to morals, good customs and public policy” and it was supported by municipal officials of San Remigio.Abuses, harassmentThe conflict between Miller and the residents started in 2018 when the foreigner occupied a lot owned by Maria Elena Del Gallego and claimed that it was his property. He then barred residents from crossing the lot. Those who missed his order were harassed, abused and even assaulted.To prove his claim of the land, Miller built a fence around his alleged property starting from the barangay road down to the cliff near the shoreline.This, residents said, is against the law because aside from depriving them their right of way toward the main road, a portion of their lot adjacent to the foreigner’s “property” was included in the fence.They added that the fencing was illegal because Miller has no fencing permit and he does own the property.Miller also forbade his neighbors from passing the seashore in front of the property even during high tide, prompting the residents to swim in the sea just to cross to the other side.He also prohibited fishermen in the area from docking their pump boats near the shore he is claiming as his.Residents said the foreign national would even chase or hurt his neighbors, even children, who would pass by his alleged property.Every time a complaint is raised against him, Miller would threaten the residents with legal action.PetitionThese incidents prompted 36 villagers to file a petition declaring Miller persona non grata. They then requested for Miller’s deportation.One of the petitioners, Alfredo Arcipe, told SunStar Cebu that on December 30, 2020, he and his partner were clearing the land of del Gallego of hollow blocks when Miller approached him and smacked his head with a metal pipe while wielding a small knife.The foreign national told the couple that they were not allowed to touch the hollow blocks. He also accused them of trespassing his property.Arcipe sustained a cut on his forehead and left arm due to the assault.Another complainant, Mercedes Asingua, said that around February 2021, her fisherman husband passed by the property when Miller confronted and pushed him off the cliff, resulting in her husband sustaining cuts and knee fracture.Antonio Mondelo Jr., a fisherman and former caretaker of the del Gallegos, said that in April 2021, he saw Miller’s men cut the rope that was tied to his boat while it was parked near the shore within the claimed property.He said he had to pay just to retrieve the boat, which was already in the waters near Negros Island.Mondelo added that Miller would utter insults and challenge other fishermen into a fistfight every time he sees fishing boats near his claimed lot.DefenseIn an interview on July 5, Miller said the accusations against him were not true and the petitioners who declared him “persona non grata” were just forced.He said the dispute started when the del Gallegos did not honor the agreement pertaining to 50 percent of funding in the development of the property and turned it into a “Aquirium Village” instead.He said he already spent millions to develop the area but the del Gallegos did not cover half of what was spent.Miller said it was an ulterior motive of the original owner to force him out and grab the developed property for free.As to Arcipe’s claims, Miller denied assaulting him with metal pipe. He said it was an act of self-defense as the latter smashed him first.Miller said it was not him who was harassing the neighbors, stressing the residents would throw rocks at his house or attempt to burn his car, forcing him to install a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera around the area for protection.“Everybody loves me, sir, except for these people right here. Just these people related to them because of the charges that are ongoing that are making these allegations,” Miller said.“I give you my word, as a man of honor, I never once did nothing. Not one paragraph, not one sentence, not one word that they said was true and we can prove it,” he told SunStar.Monalisa Jarque, owner of the lot claimed by Miller, said the foreigner is known to everybody in the area as someone who would make up stories.“He is a tourist, thus has no right to do work nor engage in business transactions with us, yet he has insisted that he owns our property regardless, meanwhile harassing local residents,” Jarque said.“His undesirability is not just unique to our family but to the rest of the community,” she added.Jarque appealed to authorities to revoke Miller’s bail and expedite his deportation to restore peace and order in their community.Miller’s counsel, lawyer Kim Fernandez Mendoza, confirmed the deportation case against her client.Mendoza said she is grateful to BI for granting her client’s temporary release from detention in consideration of his health.She said they are waiting for the final copy of the complaint, so they can properly answer the allegations thrown against Miller. (EHP)