Residents from nine barangays in Nasugbu, Batangas, called out the Department of Agricultural Reform (DAR) on Thursday to halt the impending demolition in their place.
JUST IN: 9 na barangay chairman at mga residente sumugod sa tanggapan ng Hacienda Roxas, Makati City dahil nanganganib ma-demolish ang kanilang mga barangay | RH27 @cacas_noche, DZRH News#DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/6zTb0pzMdx
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According to the report by RH Noche Cacas, hundreds of residents protested in front of Hacienda Roxas in Makati to denounce the ruling of the DAR canceling their certificates of land ownership awards.
Nasugbu Vice Mayor Mildred Sanchez, who led the protest, said a total of 60,000 residents will be affected by the demolition.
"Ang hiling naman namin ay maibigay ang nararapat para sa mga tao, hindi kami humihingi ng sobra, katulad ng programa ng pangulo, suportahan ang karapatan ng bawat magsasaka," Sanches said.
"Tutal ang hangarin ng pangulo, namigay na rin siya ng CLOA (Certificate of Land Ownership Awards) 'di ba dati? Ngayon 'yon lang din ang hinihingi namin dahil ayaw namin magaya sa Hacienda Luisita," he added.
Under a ruling issued on December 29, 2023, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III cited a jurisdictional basis to end litigation struggles that have spanned almost four decades.
Estrella ordered the provincial agrarian reform program officer to consolidate the six certificates of titles for Haciendas Caylaway, Palico, and Banilad.
The Roxas-Elizalde Clan-controlled Roxas and Company Inc. was permitted to retain the other half of the aggregate land, which amounted to 1,322 hectares, after the Secretary ordered its redistribution.
Meanwhile, the farmers belonging to the Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid sa Hacienda Roxas Inc. earlier filed a motion for consideration but were denied.
"Ang hiling namin ay pag-aralan ulit ng DAR [ang consolidated order]. Walang nakikipag-usap sa amin, gusto lang namin makita nila na nagsasakripisyo kami," Sanchez stressed.
