Troops ordered to withdraw from Hacienda Velez-Malaga
Manila Times
BACOLOD City: Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Noppo) chief Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco ordered the immediate withdrawal of troops from the Hacienda Velez-Malaga in Barangay Robles La Castellana.
Franco is confident the conflict between agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) loyal to land owner Bob Cuenca and members of Task Force Mapalad (TFM) was already settled after forging a memorandum of agreement (MOA) the other day.
Around 75 troopers from the Philippine National Police Provincial Mobile Group and Rapid Reaction Team secured the hotly-contested property that was subjected to land distribution by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
He said only 30 percent of the total police force will be retained to make sure no more bloodshed shall arise between the two conflicting groups.
The MOA signing was witnessed by DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, La Castellana Mayor Alberto Nicor Jr., Sugar Regulatory Administrator Rafael Coscolluela and Fr. Rolando Nueva.
The MOA allowed TFM to remove the guard house from the entrance to the farm. It also provides that no blue guards will roam the area allotted to them.
The TFM members did not attend the signing since Gregorio Paclibar, who represented TFM, already signed the MOA in Manila on Saturday.
“We welcome the MOA but we chose to remain in the farm for a mass to celebrate our victory and remember our slain fellow beneficiaries,” TFM deputy national coordinator Lani Factor said.
The 103 beneficiaries allied with TFM and the 196 identified with landowner Roberto Cuenca had violent clashes in the past. It resulted in the death of three TFM members. Meanwhile, Gov. Joseph Marañon of Negros Occidental welcomed the MOA signing and hopes a lasting peace shall be attained in the said property.
He said lessons should be learned from the experience in Hacienda Velez-Malaga and in solving future land conflicts, due process should be observed.
“Every stakeholder shall respect one another and never use violence as means in settling the conflict,” he said.
–Panay News
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