QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of Palawan recently installed 757 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the landholdings formerly owned by the Philippine Agribusiness Center Corporation (PACECO) located in Bgy. Decalachao, Coron, Palawan.

These ARBs are the farmers awarded by the government through the DAR with Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA). However, in the case of PACECO, it is the farmer CLOA holders versus farmer-intruders where the latter is in adverse possession and deliberately refusing to give up the government awarded lands legally and rightfully belonging to the former.

Out of 887 hectares aggregate area, only 814 hectares were initially placed under the coverage of the CARP in 1993 and were issued CLOA and distributed to 757 ARBs in 2012 awarding each of them a 300 square meter-home lot and an average of one (1) hectare of agricultural land.

The installation of ARBs in PACECO landholdings by the DAR

However, only 99 ARBs were able to take actual possessions of their awarded lands and 658 others were prevented by intruders each time they tried to enter and take possession of their lands.

The DAR has repeatedly ruled out the farmer-intruders' claim of being actual occupants through a series of dialogues which started in 2012 and for the reason that only in 2015 when they illegally sneaked in and take land occupation while the property was already placed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

With the presence and assistance of the combined forces of Philippine Marines headed by First Lieutenant Dwight Kent Payosalan and Philippine National Police headed by Police Captain Ervin Plando, the ARBs, which are the rightful claimants, were successfully installed to the landholdings

Acting Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) Daisy  Magbanua said the DAR necessitates bringing the services of the uniformed personnel to help ensure peace and order in the course of implementation of the writ of installation issued by the DAR.

"This option is embodied in the DAR-DND-DILG Joint Circular No. 5. Series of 2002, which contained the Enforcement of the Agrarian Laws and Program through the intervention of the PNP and military personnel for the successful implementation of CARP." Magbanua said.

The Writ is a legal lingo equivalent to a Court Order compelling the PARPO to assume responsibility and order the DAR Provincial Sheriff to ensure physical and actual placement of the ARBs to their awarded agricultural lands with the assistance of the police and military until they are settled and in constructive and physical control of the property.

MIMAROPA Regional Director Marvin Bernal said should the PACECO intruders deliberately cause delay, stall or obstruct the installation of the ARBs, a criminal case will be filed against him/her for violation of Sec. 73 (d) of R.A. No. 6657, as amended.

Moreover, the DAR will ask that the PACECO intruders be held liable by the Court for actual, compensatory, and moral damages suffered by the ARBs.

"To ensure that installed ARBs will continue to peacefully enjoy their right of ownership and possession over the lands awarded to them, the DAR will construct a detachment onsite which will be manned by the combined forces of the Philippines Marines and the Philippine National Police for three (3) to six (6) months," Bernal said. (DAR)

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