Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano has ordered the immediate investigation and resolution of a land dispute in Negros Occidental following the fatal shooting of a farmer last Jan. 25.
Mariano particularly ordered DAR Negros Island Director Stephen Leonidas to fast track its resolution, amid the death of 48-year-old farmer Wenceslao Pacquiao.
Reports received by DAR disclosed that Pacquiao and Rebeco Paubaya were cultivating their lands in Barangay San Benito in Calatrava town when an unidentified gunman began firing at them.
Pacquiao, who was a member of non-government organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in Negros Island, died, while Paubaya was injured.
The land in question was originally owned by Angelina Bruce Laguda and is currently leased to several farmers by Agustilo Hullesa.
Laguda opted to sell the land through the voluntary offer to sell scheme, which allowed DAR to process land distribution to qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Certificates of land ownership award or CLOAs were then distributed to beneficiaries but farmers who were not included in the list – Pacquiao and Paubaya being one of these tillers, challenged it. (Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz)