FARMERS calling for the relief of a
Department of Agrarian Reform official yesterday tried to pay
him a lightning visit inside the DAR central office and were met
with nightsticks by security guards.
At least three farmers belonging to the Laiya
Ibabao Samahang Magsasaka (Lisamag) from San Juan, Batangas and
one DAR guard were hurt.
The Lisamag group accused DAR Bureau of
Agrarian Legal Assistance director Ibra Omar of allegedly
contravening the order of the DAR Field Operations Office and
preventing the Batangas Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer from
issuing a notice of coverage on a 124-hectare property formerly
managed by Hennessy Development Corp. in Sitio Marulas, Laiya
Ibabao in San Juan, Batangas.
"Kami ay pumunta kay Director Omar para
ireklamo bakit niya hinaharang ang pag-issue ng notice of
coverage ng lupaing Henessy," Lisamag chairman Vicente Ayap
said.
Limasag also accused Omar of "selling the
farmers out" to a Taiwanese-owned firm in the same Sitio Marulas.
DAR security chief and detachment commander
Rodolfo Quiboy said some 20 farmers ran inside the DAR compound
when an employe's vehicle drove in at 10 a.m. then tried to push
open the entrance gate. The group tried to get inside Omar's
office as security personnel scrambled to lock the gates. Blows
from the guards' clubs were reportedly met with punches from the
farmers, the clash lasting about 10 minutes.
The guards said they used necessary violence
to ensure the building's and the employes' safety. They said no
property was damaged but Gate 1 guard Bonifher Macawile was
hurt.
The farmers injured by billy clubs were
identified as Edwin Gonzales, 55; Emilio Liven, 67; and Cris
Ruiz, 32.
The Limasag farmer-members had been camping
out for three weeks now with farmers from other groups in front
of the DAR office. Militant farmers' advocate Task Force Mapalad
said its members were only at the site to support farmers who
want to dialogue with Omar. TFM Batangas' Susan Libang said some
12 of their members were already inside the DAR building before
8 a.m. to talk with Omar but they were not allowed to proceed.
Ayap said DAR personnel gave them the runaround, pointing them
to different offices. "Kapag sila ang kausap, itinuturo kami sa
ibaba (local). Kapag andito naman sa ibaba, ituturo kami sa
itaas (central office). Parang nagkakalokohanan na talaga," the
Limasag chairman said.
The Limasag members said Batangas PARO
Cynthia Lapid told them it was Omar who ordered her not to issue
the notice of CARP coverage on the Hennessy property because the
landowner had a pending appeal before the Office of the
President for the renewal of its land conversion plan.
The farmers said Omar himself told them in a
meeting last April 22 that there were no legal impediments to
the issuance of the said notice. On the basis of this statement,
DAR assistant secretary for field operations Dominador Andres
directed Lapid on April 24, 2008 to issue the notice of coverage
within five days.
TFM said Hennessy was allowed to convert the property into a
first-class eco-tourism area in 1998 but it failed to undertake
any development. Hennessy applied for an extension but failed to
submit required documents, thus DAR dismissed its application.
Hennessy then filed an appeal before the Office of the
President. TFM said Hennessy no longer exists legally since it
has not renewed its registration with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. - Randy Nobleza
