Cadiz City cry foul over ‘land-grabbing’
A FARMERS’ group from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental has cried foul over an alleged case of ‘land-grabbing.’
In a statement sent to the Journal Group, the complainants led by one Giovani Aguanta said they have been prevented by security guards from harvesting their produce in Hacienda Escolastica located in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City.
The group called on President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr., Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Benjamin ‘Benhur C. Abalos Jr. to immediately act on their appeal and give them the justice they deserve.
The complainants said that armed guards were preventing them from getting their yield although they already have the Certificates of Land Ownership or CLOA issued by the Department of Agrarian Reform to prove their ownership of the contested properties.
One of the complainants named Junjie Siaboc,39, claimed that on the morning of November 13 this year, the public road in their area was allegedly destroyed with the use of a tractor by a group of men. The incident was put on blotter by the Cadiz City Police Station headed by Lieutenant Colonel John Despi.
The complaining farmers are known beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP Compulsory Acquisition Coverage in Cadiz City. They are claiming they have been issued CLOA by the Provincial Agrarian Reform Office in Bacolod City in May 2003.
However, the complainants are saying that despite the issuance of the said CLOA, the corn they have planted in their properties have been plowed by the security guards.
Representatives of the farmers’ group have called for the issuance of a ‘cease and desist order’ against their alleged adversary.
