Squatters at Negros ranch face charges

Bacolod City, Philippines —Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the provincial government will file charges against individuals who instructed illegal occupants to stay at the Negros First Ranch in Barangay Sta. Rosa in Murcia town.

Marañon said the lawyers of the Provincial Legal Office went to Brgy. Sta. Rosa to get the affidavits of the witnesses so they can file charges against whoever is responsible for condoning the presence of the illegal settlers.

“We must enforce the full force of the law,” the governor earlier said, adding, that the illegal occupants at the ranch must suffer the consequence of their actions.

Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena also said earlier that they have identified the leader of the illegal occupants as Eduardo Palma, a member of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers.

Early this month, 18 farmers occupied one hectare of the 159-hectare Negros First Ranch and allegedly threatened personnel assigned at the ranch, police said.

The farmers allegedly claimed ownership of a portion of the ranch, saying they hold certificates of land ownership reportedly issued by virtue of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

But Decena said the Negros First Ranch lots were acquired by the provincial government from the Arguelles family.

The ranch houses high-breed cows and sheep the province has bought from Australia for the Negros First Food Security Agenda.

Some of the residents who were affected by the project were given a relocation site near the area, while others were employed as workers at the ranch, Decena said.

The governor maintained that the provincial government bought the farm lots legally. When the province bought the ranch two years ago, it reportedly asked the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) if the lots have no CLOA. He said the DAR said the lots had no CLOA, but only this March the illegal occupants claimed there were CLOAs in some of the lots.

A detachment is expected to be established in Brgy. Santa Rosa to secure the ranch. - THE FREEMAN