Sitio Asao, Barangay Lawis, Balasan, Iloilo – Ronald Ocson, 41-year old, married with seven children and president of the Asao Farmers and Residents Association (AFRA) was shot by a lone assailant on Monday, October 30, 2006 around six in the evening.

Ronald was sitting at the entrance of his father’s house when the shooting occurred. His daughter, 14-year old Rowena Joy, who was also inside the house at that time, was at the window, and saw the alleged gunman drew a pistol and fired at his father.

Sherlina, the victim’s wife, accordingly heard the suspect who was identified as a certain Roberto “Kasey” Jordan, shouting; “Ngaa, inyo ni duta?!” (Why? Is this your land?), before her husband was shot.

Immediately, police assistance was sought and Ronald was brought to the Jesus Colmenares Hospital in Malbog, Balasan for treatment with the help of village councilwoman, Zenaida dela Cruz.

Meanwhile, responding policemen from the Balasan Police Station failed to arrest the suspect who immediately fled after the shooting incident. Police investigation showed that the suspect was drunk when he shot Ocson using a .357 handgun.

Based on the victim’s account, earlier of the day, while tending his rice field, he saw the suspect and a certain alias “Kano” drinking liquor in the company of Andres Bedro’s men for almost 6 hours. Witnesses also confirmed that Kasey Jordan is Andres Bedro’s best friend.

To recall, Andres Bedro and his wife Susan Bedro, former vice-mayor Balasan, filed a civil case docketed as 251-B for Forcible Entry with Prayer for Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order against twenty-one (21) AFRA members at the Carles-Balasan Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC). It stemmed from a dispute over an agricultural estate, supposedly, subject of the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The contested farm lot, the respondents claim, was covered with a collective CLOA (Certificate of Land Ownership Award) thus giving them the right to till and harvest its produce.

However, the local court ruled in favor of the plaintiff’s petition. The AFRA agrarian reform beneficiaries appealed their case. But the Bedro couple, determined to take back what they believe belonged to them, proceeded to illegally enforce the MCTC’s resolution, despite its being not final and executory.

In October 11, 2006, at around 5:30 in the morning, Andres Bedro and his armed goons on board a cargo truck, a pickup and a motorcycle raided the AFRA members’ farm, totally destroying the crops and the rest of their livelihood structures. Members who were present when the incident happened were harassed and their lives threatened.

Three (3) days later, on October 14, 2006, around eleven in the evening, another violent harassment happened. The house of another AFRA member, 28-year old Johnny Catalan, was fired upon by unidentified assailants. Fortunately for him and his family they were not hit as the bullets only grazed the lower wall and window of his house. Balasan police recovered Four (4) .45 caliber empty shells in an area near Catalan’s house, as the crime scene investigation was conducted only the morning after.

With reports from:

PROGRESO

UNORKA

11 November 2006