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Thursday, June 21, 2007
Violence mars survey on agrarian reform land
By Antonieta B. Lopez
LA CASTELLANA -- Farmers belonging to Task Force Mapalad attempted Wednesday to take possession of 38 hectares of land in this Negros Occidental town that is the subject of government’s agrarian reform program.
The attempt to occupy land in the contentious Hacienda Velez-Malaga in La Castellana town came several hours after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) succeeded in surveying the area for segregation amid strong resistance.
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The installation of Task Force Mapalad workers in the land is being contested by Malaga farmer beneficiaries belonging to the hacienda’s management union.
It is this Malaga farmer beneficiaries who are resisting the survey of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on the 144-hectare of sugar lands at the hacienda.
Despite fierce opposition from the Malaga farmers, though, DAR managed to survey almost half of the 38-hectare area identified for 102 farmers belonging to Task Force Mapalad.
Nevertheless, Task Force Mapalad farmers were also prevented from taking possession of the 38 hectares by troopers of the 6th Regional Mobile Group who were assigned to secure the area.
In a text message, task force spokesperson Jerry Cajilig criticized DAR and the police for preventing them from “cultivating their land.”
“Police forces are supposed to protect us but why are they now preventing us from entering our property? What was the survey for?” he said.
Provincial agrarian reform officer Stephen Leonidas explained that the task force as of now cannot take possession of the property because the survey still needs to be validated.
Also, no installation will be done until all stakeholders arrive at a workable solution to the land conflict between task force and hacienda farmer beneficiaries, said regional officer Alexis Arsenal.
The task force is claiming ownership of 53 hectares for 57 farmers who were installed by Secretary Nasser Pangandaman last March 22.
The 57 Task Force Mapalad farmers who are claiming ownership of 53 hectares were identified by the union as former workers. The union is questioning the rest of the 102 Task Force Mapalad farmer beneficiaries.
The 57 now occupies 15 hectares of the 53 hectares set aside for them. The remaining 38 hectares were the subject of Wednesday’s demarcation survey.
Malaga farm workers protesting the survey formed a human barricade to prevent the DAR team, led by lawyer Leandro Castro of the DAR legal department, from pushing through with its plan but failed.
The DAR team was assisted by policeman from the province and region Police Supt. Larry Decena as ground commander.
A riot ensued when union workers and their wives fought by throwing stones at the surveyors.
A farmer identified with Task Force Mapalad, however, was caught by Malaga farm workers throwing stones at them. Policemen were able to contain the situation.
Several policemen and union workers sustained minor injuries during the riot.
Castro later decided to pull out from the property after the workers continue to resist their presence.
“We were given authority...to withdraw from the area if the situation proves to be very difficult,” he said, adding that they do not want to further aggravate the already volatile situation.
Farm administrator Bob Aizpuro criticized DAR’s move of pushing through with the survey despite appeals from the workers and warnings of possible legal action because of pending cases before the Supreme Court.
Union spokesman Romulo Espinosa insisted that it was illegal for DAR to conduct the survey because the Certificate of Land Ownership Awards given to Task Force Mapalad farmers was cancelled by the Regional Trial Court in La Carlota City.
He said they are resisting the survey because it will give Task Force Mapalad farmers another reason to force themselves into the property, the same way they illegally took possession of the 10-hectare property before.
In the five-hectare portion adjacent to the hacienda entrance, Task Force Mapalad farmers stood their ground, hoping that DAR will immediately install them.
Task force leader Pedro Santillan said they will not leave the area until DAR installs them.
The group also continued to hold the wake for Ely Tupas and Alejandro Garcesa who were killed in a shooting incident last June 4 when they cleared the area of sugarcane.
Santillan said they will not bury the two until they are able to take possession of the entire 53 hectares.
Romeo Caram, chairman of the Hacienda Velez-Malaga Multipurpose Cooperative, and union president Rodolfo Tupas made their offer again in a meeting with DAR officials and military and police officials at Villa Indo in the La Castellana town center Wednesday.
The dialog was witnessed by mayor-elect Alberto Nicor and vice Mayor-elect Chad Feria.
Caram said their offer for 53 hectares in Camandag and an additional 114 hectares with standing crops still stands.
He said he is also grateful for DAR’s openness, and added they are satisfied with the assurance it made that the status quo would be maintained as negotiations continue.
The property the union is offering is located in the eastern part of the hacienda while the area that TFM wants is situated on a prime spot.
The DAR lawyer admitted that the union’s offer is a good one.
Nicor, who will be “inheriting” the land conflict when he assumes office next month, said he wants DAR to hold in abeyance any move that will trigger violence in the area.
He also appealed to all stakeholders to exercise restraint, adding that no one wants more bloodshed.
On the other hand, Decena said two more police teams were deployed to augment the 50 troopers already assigned in the hacienda. (Sun.Star Bacolod/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (June 21, 2007 issue)
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