DAR bully tactics

I just picked up an interesting story from Negros province where the Department of Agrarian Reform, along with elements of the 303rd Philippine Army Brigade and the Bago City Police station are implicated in what local media refer to as intimidation or bully tactics.

It seems officials of the provincial agrarian reform office have adapted the “show of force” technique when conducting unannounced surveys of farmlands by bringing along “clueless” military and police personnel to stop anyone from preventing the entry of DAR officers or challenging their presence and activities. This is apparently their “short cut” from having to coordinate with landowners or having to show authorization to enter and conduct surveys.

When a landowner challenged the actions of the “team” and began to take legal action, they were “approached” by military and police officials who explained that they were merely escorting the DAR officials who did not inform then that the entry and survey were not coordinated with the landowner. As the story developed, locals claim that the entire operation seems to be orchestrated by some provincial operator or official who also provides pack lunches for the military and police personnel. A columnist of The Visayan Daily Star named Modesto Sa-onoy has actually written a ten-part series on the controversial activities of the DAR teams and the DAR Secretary should ask a copy to appraise him on the matter.

To begin with, bringing in the military creates unnecessary tension and puts our men in uniform in a bad light. If the Agrarian Reform personnel had cause to be concerned for their personal safety they should have coordinated with the police but not call in the army. That is totally uncalled for because it is not the army’s job.

According to a local informant, there is reason to suspect the seemingly unusual haste and diligence of the local DAR officials in conducting surveys. Locals have reason to believe that a “syndicate” may be waiting in the wings to have the lands parceled out so they in turn can come in and acquire the property from the awardees, the same way syndicates acquired lands in northern and southern Luzon from agrarian reform beneficiaries and subsequently selling or putting up said properties for joint venture development with property developers or foreign agri-based corporations.

Whatever the real reason may be, one thing is for sure, the DAR personnel in Negros province needs to be placed under review because a couple of landowners are reportedly firming up their law suits to be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman.

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I voted for Senator Grace Poe.

Having said that it follows that I am not amused with law suits being filed against the good senator especially after she has won her seat in the Senate and has been sworn in.

Nonetheless, when a private citizen attempted to file a case for her removal on the grounds of her citizenship, I could not help but take notice of the fact that a citizen of this republic needs to pay a P50,000 filing fee? What kind of justice system is that, if not a justice system based on capacity to pay! To begin with such a case would and should be moot and academic assuming the Commission on Elections had, or does its job well enough to be able to predetermine whether or not Grace Poe or any candidate for that matter is qualified in every part of the law.

I would assume that whoever is in charge or responsible for screening the certificate of candidacy of Grace Poe and others, would have enough public service sense to stand up and speak up to clarify the matters concerning Senator Poe’s eligibility and citizenship issues. Why burden citizens and our judicial system with unnecessary matters that can be quickly settled by a statement from the Comelec? God forbid, if Poe or any other elected official is declared ineligible, the Office of the Ombudsman, Congress etc. should see to it that the Comelec official who processed the Certificate o f Candidacy is removed from office as well and all his benefits denied for wasting public funds and the people’s vote!

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 What is it about Tacloban City and the P-Noy misadministration that always leads to creating embarrassing situations for the Aquino government? Last Monday the major news was that the United Nations had criticized the Aquino government for not doing much or not doing enough to help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Fortunately, the UN officials who did the assessment had managed to leave Tacloban before the asphalt tarmac of the Daniel Romualdez Airport started to pop and peel into pot holes that eventually trapped one Air Bus of Cebu Pacific and another Air Asia. Later in the day, officials reported that a total of six flights had to be cancelled!

Is this the curse of “You’re a Romualdez and the President is an Aquino” or is this part of the design obsolescence of the DOTC regarding their plan to relocate the airport to the town of Palo, Leyte? The airlines should file damage claims for lost revenues due to the lousy job done at the Tacloban Airport!

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Sen. Ralph Recto made the suggestion that P-Noy should issue an HDO or Hold Departure Order from the cabinet for his cabinet members. Recto obviously knows that at least half of P-Noy’s cabinet members are thinking, planning or being encouraged to run for Congress or the Senate. Recto wants the HDO so cabinet members can personally defend the 2015-2016 budget. I suspect Recto is being sly and is making suggestion in order to reduce his competition for re-election in 2016.

If I were Recto I would push for a ban on all current cabinet members from running in the next election after a term. This would prevent a corrupt or guilty cabinet member from becoming a congressman or senator and getting immunity from suit or using the power of the office to protect themselves, their former colleagues or boss. On the other hand I would work for the removal of the one-year ban preventing losing candidates from being appointed in government. The one year ban is unfair considering senators can run for higher office and retain their post if they lose, while the one year ban prevents a president from creating a unity cabinet or healing team.

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