Report: Guards demolish shacks of land beneficiaries in Hacienda Bacan

Agrarian reform beneficiaries in Hacienda Bacan in Isabela, Negros Occidental, yesterday complained that guards demolished the shacks and fences they built on the land awarded to them by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) last week. According to a report of the Visayan Daily Star on Tuesday, security guards of Rivulet Agro Industrial Corp.allegedly destroyed the properties of Task Force Mapalad (TFM) agrarian reform beneficiaries at the hacienda. Out of the 68 beneficiaries installed on 148.2219 hectares on June 28, more than half, or 43 are members of the Negros Occidental Federation of Farmers Association (NOFFA) while 25 are from TFM, Visayan Daily Star reported. TFM spokesperson Edna Sobrecanay alleged that armed blue guards at about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and destroyed the shacks and fences they had built. Enrique Tayo, NOFFA head, affirmed Sobrecanay's statement, saying about 10 blue guards on board a pickup entered Bacan on Sunday. Tayo said the shacks built by NOFFA were not demolished, only the structures and fences built by TFM. According to the report, Rivulet lawyer Ruy Rondain said the company believes the installation of the 68 farmer beneficiaries was illegal because of a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court. “As such the installation of the farmer beneficiaries was illegal and we consider them squatters," the report quoted Rondain as saying. Rondain also mentioned his intention to file charges against the DAR personnel who installed the 68 beneficiaries last week. Meanwhile, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Felix Servidad and Provincial Police Director, Senior Superinendent Allan Guisihan, said they will look into the matter. - VVP, GMA News