HUMABOL LOT CLAIMS IN TRINIDAD ILLEGAL

TO ASSURE EVERYONE that not one of them will ever come to harm, farmers in San Vicenter, Trinidad put up an organization among themselves called the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries of Talibon and Trinidad (ARBOTT).

The poor farmers are allegedly receiving threats from the Trinidad-Talibon Integrated Farmers Association, Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, collectively known as TTIFA-HUMABOL-KMP.

The farmers claim that TTIFA-HUMABOL-KMP, alleged leftist legal fronts, are threatening resident farmers in the areas in question which are under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of possible ejection from the lands they are currently tilling because of non-attendance during rallies, refusing to give 30% share from their farm produce and for having stopped contributing to HUMABOL, chaired by one Danilo Olayvar.

Last May 21, 2015, ARBOTT members led by Sergio Auxilio visited the offices of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to seek advice on what to do with their current dilemma and on how to be included in the Comprehensive Land Ownership Award (CLOA).

According to the DAR office, the Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Office (DARRO) had already given the directive to include one Vilma Reyes as a qualified beneficiary of the program especially for Lots numbered 27-5 and 27-8.

Bohol Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Grace Fua informed the farmers that their office has received a similar request as that of Reyes called “Petition of Inclusion” but cautioned that not all petitions requesting the same will automatically be granted for there are yet investigations to be conducted and proper channels and appropriate processes must be followed where some names in the list will be changed because some of the beneficiaries are already deceased.

Reports have been received that some farmers fear for their safety because TTIFA-HUMABOL-KMP claims to own the lands and has alleged that it has the power to eject the latter from their farms and replace them with new tenant farmers.

Atty. Prince Lim, DAR Legal Department Head, says that TTIFA-HUMABOL-KMP’s allegations are not true and the farmers need not fear for their office has the sole jurisdiction over  the lots in question.

He added that DAR itself will uphold all legalities and that the people will be protected by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army. (JLV/PGBh/EDCom)