Private security agencies meddling in CARP implementation warned

AGRARIAN Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones warned private security agencies Wednesday that cases would be filed against them if they would continue meddling with the work of the department and obstructing the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Castriciones issued this stern warning after receiving reports that private security agencies hired by landowners have prevented officials and personnel of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and farmer-beneficiaries from gaining access to farmlands already placed under CARP coverage.

This developed after Castriciones gave his regional and provincial officials a standing order: “Install agrarian reform beneficiaries already awarded with Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs).”

The secretary issued the verbal order during the ongoing assessment and planning conference of the DAR in Baguio City. This was a direct response to strong clamor from among uninstalled farmer-beneficiaries, some of them reaching out to him via text messaging, demanding immediate installation in their respective farm lots.

Many farmer-beneficiaries are still not enjoying peaceful tilling of their awarded lands due to continued harassment from the landowners’ alleged henchmen.

“Identify the security agencies of these landlords and file cases against them before the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agency of the National Police Commission,” Castriciones said.

DAR regional and provincial offices are steadfastly installing harassed farmer-beneficiaries, even seeking police and military assistance to penetrate even the heavily guarded landholdings. Requests have also been made for the putting up of police detachments to protect farmer-beneficiaries and to ensure the exercise of their rights to till their awarded farmlands peacefully.

“The problem is we cannot make them stay for a long time. At the most, policemen posted at the police detachment(s) stay for 30 days or a month only. Once the policemen are gone, the harassment resumes,” a DAR field official, who requested anonymity said.

“It’s basically a ‘cat-and-mouse game.” Once the (police) are out, the (alleged landowners’ henchmen) will play,” he added.

“This is particularly true in far-flung areas,” another DAR official echoed.

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