Aloguinsan land dispute farmers file admin raps vs Police

CEBU, Philippines - Six police officials and other policemen face administrative cases before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly harassing the farmers who were arrested during the commotion that ensued following the fencing of a lot in Aloguinsan.

This after six out of 39 persons filed a complaint for grave misconduct against the policemen who arrested them during the commotion after the fencing of the 168-hectare agricultural land owned by the Gantuangcos in Aloguinsan.

Name respondents were Inspector Jaime Tolentino of Aloguinsan, Sr. Insp. Leo Logroño of Pinamungahan, Inspector Rogelio Amoroso of Toledo City, PSupt. Anthony Bagarinao of Balamban, Inspector Danilo Santillan of Asturias and Supt. Resty Santos of Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) and 32 other policemen.

Susan Hilaria, one of the farmers who cultivated the land for a long time, said they were harassed by the policemen when they tried to stop the fencing of the said land at Barangay Bonbon, Aloguinsan.

Hilaria said such incident affected their livelihood.

“Tungod sa maong insidente nagkalisud-lisud nami sa among panginabuhi (Because of the incident, we had difficulties in our livelihood),” she said.

She asked the Office of the Ombudsman to act immediately on their complaint filed against the 38 policemen and to suspend, or if possible, to dismiss them from the service. “Kinahanglan sila tangtangun tungod sa gibuhat nila namo dili makatarunganun,” she said.

Farmers together with three students from the University of the Philippines were arrested by the police during the commotion which transpired on August 29, 2011 when the Gantuangco family together with the assistance of the police, tried to fence the lot where the farmers live.

However, the farmers prevented the Gantuangcos and the police from fencing the said lot.

Police said the fencing of the lot was valid after court sheriff Melvin Destura presented a temporary restraining order dated August 12, issued by Judge Hermes Montero of the Regional Trial Court Branch 59 in Toledo City.

Earlier, the police filed two cases against the farmers and the students for resisting arrest and direct assault. The case is still pending before the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City. — (FREEMAN)