CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “We are not just threatened and harassed but prevented from making a living in our own land.”
Thus said Jaime Dizon Sotto, president of the San Jose Farmers Association (SJFA) in Floridablanca, Pampanga, as his group condemned the failure of the landowner in letting them re-occupy a 164-hectare property in the town near the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway (SCTEx).
“We have won our rights in the proper venue. But we could not return in our lands and work there, allowing us to feed our families,” said Sotto.
He said the recent orders from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) allowed them to till their lands and asked landowner Ramon Joven to vacate the property while case is on-going.
In an interview here, Sotto also cried foul over the presence of armed men at the property in Barangay San Jose, Floridablanca. He alleged that the six armed men were hired by Joven during the takeover of the disputed land in October, 2009.
Sotto questioned the presence of what he described as high-powered firearms at the disputed property as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a gun ban during the election campaign period and until June 9.
“We dare them to show their special permits issued by the Comelec. We dare Joven to do so,” said Sotto.
In a memorandum issued by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) last April 29, DAR Assistant Undersecretary Dominador asked DAR Regional Director Teofilo Inocencio “to expedite the coverage under CARP of the property which can be appropriately covered under Phase – I of RA 9700” and “to issue Cease and Desist Order (CDO) to landowner Ramon Joven from further development of the land while re-documentation for its coverage is on-going pursuant to DAR Region – III order dated 13 April 2010 (Doc. No. 304-021910.)”
“ WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully recommended that an Ocular Inspection be conducted by the composite team from the Operations Division, DAR Pampanga Provincial Office, Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Recourses (DENR) and pending the resolution of the case and to avoid further heated arguments and physical confrontation that may led to bloodshed between the parties, the undersigned respectfully recommends that a CEASE AND DESIST ORDER be issued by the DAR Regional Director Refraining the Heirs of Ramon Joven and all other persons acting for and in their behalf from entering the subject property for the peaceful implementation of the Agrarian Reform Program,” said a separate report issued by the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office in Floridablanca and signed by Ariel Santos earlier this year.
Sotto thanked Jaime Tadeo of Presidential Agrarian Reform Council for helping him and their 80 members in preparing the documents to win their case and return to their land.
Joven could not be reached for his comments.
Thus said Jaime Dizon Sotto, president of the San Jose Farmers Association (SJFA) in Floridablanca, Pampanga, as his group condemned the failure of the landowner in letting them re-occupy a 164-hectare property in the town near the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway (SCTEx).
“We have won our rights in the proper venue. But we could not return in our lands and work there, allowing us to feed our families,” said Sotto.
He said the recent orders from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) allowed them to till their lands and asked landowner Ramon Joven to vacate the property while case is on-going.
In an interview here, Sotto also cried foul over the presence of armed men at the property in Barangay San Jose, Floridablanca. He alleged that the six armed men were hired by Joven during the takeover of the disputed land in October, 2009.
Sotto questioned the presence of what he described as high-powered firearms at the disputed property as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a gun ban during the election campaign period and until June 9.
“We dare them to show their special permits issued by the Comelec. We dare Joven to do so,” said Sotto.
In a memorandum issued by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) last April 29, DAR Assistant Undersecretary Dominador asked DAR Regional Director Teofilo Inocencio “to expedite the coverage under CARP of the property which can be appropriately covered under Phase – I of RA 9700” and “to issue Cease and Desist Order (CDO) to landowner Ramon Joven from further development of the land while re-documentation for its coverage is on-going pursuant to DAR Region – III order dated 13 April 2010 (Doc. No. 304-021910.)”
“ WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully recommended that an Ocular Inspection be conducted by the composite team from the Operations Division, DAR Pampanga Provincial Office, Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Recourses (DENR) and pending the resolution of the case and to avoid further heated arguments and physical confrontation that may led to bloodshed between the parties, the undersigned respectfully recommends that a CEASE AND DESIST ORDER be issued by the DAR Regional Director Refraining the Heirs of Ramon Joven and all other persons acting for and in their behalf from entering the subject property for the peaceful implementation of the Agrarian Reform Program,” said a separate report issued by the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office in Floridablanca and signed by Ariel Santos earlier this year.
Sotto thanked Jaime Tadeo of Presidential Agrarian Reform Council for helping him and their 80 members in preparing the documents to win their case and return to their land.
Joven could not be reached for his comments.
