Farmers Overpowered Land Guards in Negros
In the absence of personnel from the Department of Agrarian Reform in Negros Oriental and without police assistance, agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) belonging to the Villareal Caranoche Farmers Association (VILLACARFA) took physical possession of the 33.7-hectare Teves property in Caranoche, Sta. Catalina despite threats to their life.
The ARBs, headed by Romaldo Hoyohoy, entered the property early this morning, overpowered the security guards, put up tents, established foxholes, and have started plowing the fields.
The ARBs lamented the indecisiveness of DAR personnel in installing them since receiving their Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) in 1997.
Hoyohoy stressed they could not wait for the police to extend them assistance which was promised by DAR.
Task Force Mapalad staff member Ronald Lim said they are assisting the farmers in asserting their right as rightful owner of the property, which belonged to former 3rd district Rep. Herminio Teves and his family.
While some media personnel were interviewing the ARBs inside the property, successive bursts of gunfire were heard from a distance, that prompted three teams of the police to rush to the scene.
Responding police included those from the Bayawan Ccity police headed by Supt. Roy Abella, the 705th provincial mobile group headed by Chief Inspector Julius Muñez and Sta. Catalina police headed by Police Sr. Inspector Edilberto Jungco.
Sta. Catalina Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) Elena Gara explained the installation of the ARBs is being held in abeyance until the order of finality is issued by DAR Secretary Naser Pangandaman.
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