Wednesday, March 07, 2007 Guv tells DAR: 'Follow procedures, avoid violence' By Antonieta B. Lopez and Nicolas C. Delfin
NEGROS Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon stressed Monday the need to follow all procedures in the installation of 122 agrarian reform beneficiaries in La Castellana to avoid further violence in the sugar plantation of Roberto Cuenca.
Officers of the Hacienda Malaga-Cuenca Multi-purpose Cooperative and the Malaga Independent Workers Union, along with 200 students and farmers sought an audience with Marañon Monday to ask for his intervention on the impending installation of 122 ARBs affiliated with the Task Force Mapalad this week.
The group came from the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Bacolod but they failed to meet with DAR provincial officer Stephen Leonidas who was in Iloilo for a conference.
They also went to the Bishop's House hoping to have a dialog with Bishop Vicente Navarra but were met instead by Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, Social Action Center director.
Buenafe said the most they can do is refer their pleas to his counterpart, Fr. Rolex Nueva, because the case falls within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Kabankalan.
He, however, assured the group that they will be following up their case with Nueva.
Meanwhile, Marañon asked the group why it took them long to meet with him when the conflict has been escalating over the years.
He said the group should write him personally asking for a task force that will review the Malaga case. If there is ground to stop the installation of the TFM-affiliated farmers, the governor said he will not hesitate to intervene in the case to prevent violence.
However, if the installation pushes through and there is violation committed, those involved will be held liable, he added.
Union president Rodolfo Tupas Sr. said they were forced to meet with the governor because of the installation order issued by DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman.
He said DAR has several times facilitated the demands of TFM but they seem to forget that we have rights over the property too. DAR's actions favoring TFM makes that group seems "untouchables," he also said.
Tupas clarified that his group is not opposing the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) but they only want to ensure that only those who are real beneficiaries will be installed in the property.
Of the 122 ARBs, he said 20 have left TF Mapalad and rejoined the union. Tupas said only 60 of the remaining 102 farmers affiliated with Mapalad are real beneficiaries.
Coop vice president Romeo Caram, at the same time, said in case the installation pushes through this week, they will not question the Certificate of Land Ownership Ward (CLOA) for the 60 farmers because they can vouch that these persons have worked in the farms.
Union secretary Pat Ogatis also said it will be illegal to insist on the installation because the CLOAs have been cancelled by the Regional Trial Court in La Carlota.
Before they can claim the property, the CLOAs should be activated, she said, adding that the case is still pending before the Supreme Court.
If DAR insists on pushing through the installation, Tupas said they will not only lose the property to non-beneficiaries but also the benefits they are currently enjoying. He said that the union has a collective bargaining agreement that is recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment and a scholarship program is sending 156 students to school.
Ogatis also clarified that they are not defending Cuenca. "We are the victims here. Cuenca is already rich and he can survive without the hacienda," she said, adding that they have to fight because their future and that of their children is at stake here.
Meanwhile, the TF Mapalad led by Jose Rodito Angeles, on the other hand, remains firm on their claims of owning the land and demand that they be installed.
"It is regrettable that Cuenca and his farm workers are still in denial even when it is morally and legally obvious that they no longer have any right to the 144 hectares awarded to 122 farmer-beneficiaries," Angeles said, adding that "If violence erupts and people are killed during the installation, Cuenca will bear the full criminal responsibility."
DAR officials met with Western Visayas Police Director Wilfredo Dulay Monday and discussed security details for the installation.
Negros Occidental Police Director Rosendo Franco, on the other hand, said he has already prepared contingency plans to avert any eventualities.
