CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Five more farm workers were arrested in Barangay Mapalacsiao within Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac last Thursday, further fueling conflict between the family of Pres. Aquino and the Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) despite the already implemented land reform program in the estate.
Ambala said that its members George Gatus, Gerry Catalan, Jaime Quiambao, Alvin Gratil and Leoncio Suarez were arrested by the police at about noon Thursday while they were resting near their farmlots in the village.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) facilitated last year land distribution in the hacienda owned by the President’s family. The distribution became controversial for raffling off the land parcels to the beneficiaries. Those arrested were among those who had objected to the raffle system.
“The arrest came after the farmworkers tried to approach about 10 men who were placing markers on their farm lots, so as to know their identities and purpose. The strangers ran off and came back with the police in two vehicles and arrested them,” Ambala said.
It identified some of the arresting offi cers as Supt. Felix Bervo and one SPO2 De la Cruz. The Ambala members were taken to Camp Macabulos, the police provincial headquarters in Tarlac City. Police did not inform the farmers the reason for their arrest, Ambala noted.
“At around 3:30 p.m, Ranmil Echanis, deputy secretary-general of the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Uma), called up Provincial Agrarian Reform Office (PARO) chief Ileona Pangilinan to report the arbitrary arrest possibly involving DAR personnel.
Pangilinan said she would send someone from their legal affairs to go to Camp Macabulos to verify the report and help release the farmers if possible,” Ambala said. The group said that “past 4 p.m., the farmers were brought to the Tarlac City Regional Trial Court for inquest proceedings.
UMA was then informed that it was the DAR itself which filed charges against the farmers.”
