Friday, June 08, 2007 Merced shows no fear of charges to be filed against him By Erwin Ambo S. Deliland and Nicolas C. Delfin
CONCLUSION is yet far to happen on the ruckus in Hacienda Velez-Malaga, Robles, La Castellana despite the appeal of Governor Joseph Marañon to all farmer beneficiaries there, either from Task Force Mapalad or hacienda management, to stay calm and wait for the final decision of the Department of Agrarian Reform (Dar) regarding the contested portion of the land estate of Roberto Cuenca.
On Thursday, about 50 TFM farmer-beneficiaries trooped in front of the Dar office in Bacolod and demanded Dar legal officer Vicky Delgado to conduct demarcation in the 53 hectares land area, which Dar awarded to them on March 22.
If not, TFM-Negros President Rodito Angeles said, they will be forced to penetrate the contested area. But report, however, said Delgado won't proceed to the demarcation not until she can talk to Pedro Merced, commander of the Police's Regional Mobile Group (RMG).
RMG is the main unit tasked by the Police in Western Visayas to handle security operations in Hacienda Velez-Malaga.
The TFM farmers, however, claimed Merced is nowhere to be found now.
Angeles said, "We don't know where's Merced now. That's why we are seeking audience from PNP Chief Oscar Calderon at Camp Crame to ask him to relieve Merced as soon as possible."
Because of Merced's laxity including that of his RMG detachment head in Malaga, Police Officer Rollie Padasas, in guarding us, the reason why two of our fellow farmers were killed by the blue guards of Cuenca, Angeles added.
But Merced, in a phone interview Thursday night said he's not a robot. TFM knows what they did and they should not blame us or anybody else, he said.
"They were also instructed that in case they have a move to penetrate the contested area, they have to ask us so proper security and guidance would be given to them. But TFM farmers are really hard-headed," Merced said.
Merced admitted there were three women who went to their detachment and asked for police assistance, but when his men told them not to do so, they immediately left the area and minutes after series of gunshots were heard.
After 30 minutes, two were killed and six were wounded, all from the TFM.
The fatalities were identified as Ely Tupas and Alejandro Garcesa.
"Now, they're blaming me and my men for not responding to the incident. It's their fault. In fact, they're even ready for the situation because they have with themselves the video and photo cameras to document the entire commotion," Merced said.
"That's why, I am not afraid of their call for my resignation. I've already submitted my incident report to General Wilfredo Dulay and I believe that even if they will go to PNP Chief Calderon, still I will be given time to explain the incident and answer all their charges against me," Merced said.
TFM counsel Rudy Gabasan of the Ateneo de Manila University-based Saligan Lawyers' Group, said they will file appropriate complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman and the National Police Commission.
Gabasan said they are now gathering and evaluating testimonies from witnesses to build cases against Merced and some of the RMG officers.
