Friday, March 30, 2007 Arroyo urged to act on Malaga case By Ma. Ester L. Espina
AN UNFORGIVABLE act of treachery.
This was how Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon described the actuations of Agrarian Secretary Nasser Pangandaman during his installation of Task Force Mapalad farmer beneficiaries in Hacienda Velez-Malaga, Barangay Robles, La Castellana town last Thursday.
In a strongly-worded letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the governor urged Malacañang to act on the matter, which has "adversely affected" the peace and order situation in the province where "landowners and their workers are very restive."
Maranon called Pangandaman's act treacherous, citing the last conversation they had when the latter "expressed his desire to properly coordinate with us," referring to the March 8 meeting after the foiled installation of Task Force Mapalad farmers in Malaga.
"He (Pangandaman) surreptitiously went ahead without our knowledge causing undue tension and injuries to some people along the way. To our mind, this is an unforgivable act of treachery," the governor said.
In his letter, Marañon also mentioned the recent resolution of the Association of Chief Executives declaring Pangandaman as "persona non grata," with a veiled threat that "ignoring this call may affect our effectiveness this coming elections."
Marañon slammed the installation, which resulted to stone-throwing and alleviated the already tense situation in the contentious landholdings formerly owned by Roberto Cuenca.
He also urged the President to look into the Provincial Government's proposal to create a local agrarian reform council that will discuss and settle disputes before any installation are made.
"What aggravated the situation was the temerity of the DAR Secretary to enforce the installation without the required coordination with local government officials concerned," he said.
"We do need to cite the pertinent laws he violated and trampled upon at the expense of the dignity and honor of his fellow colleagues in government," he added, urging the President to issue guidelines in the future "to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and even death."
Meanwhile, the Provincial Council joined the calls condemning the manner by which Pangandaman installed farmer beneficiaries affiliated with Task Force Mapalad.
In a mass resolution crafted and signed by all board members, the council "denounced the actuations and demeanor" of Pangandaman and the same to be submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her attention.
The council cited several provisions in the Local Government Code, which urges the national agencies to coordinate with local government units in implementing their programs most especially in agrarian related problems "as to prevent violence in such highly-charged emotional atmosphere."
The motion, sponsored by 5th district Board Member Dino Yulo, also mentioned how Pangandaman "twice rebuffed" the offer of support and coordination by both the Provincial Government and the La Castellana municipality to thresh out problems before any installation can be made.
The resolution also mentioned the manner by which the authorities detained some 30 Malaga workers in the field "exposing them to the elements of the sun for a number of hours without regard as to their welfare and their basic human rights."
Last Tuesday, union members filed a case before the Commission on Human Rights on this incident.
