Mid 90’s when long-time tenants of an estate formerly owned by a certain Clementina Ganzon-Tad-y organized themselves to avail of the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The group became known as the Asao Farmers and Residents Association (AFRA), a people’s organization petitioning for CARP implementation in Sitio Asao, Barangay Lawis, Balasan, in the province of Iloilo. By 1993 the said parcel of land was declared covered under Republic Act 6657 otherwise known as CARP.

December 21, 2001, AFRA members were handed with collective land titles or CLOAs (Certificate of Land Ownership Award) on the lots they were tilling (portions of Lot C, Psd-74005) and signed by then DAR Secretary Hernani Braganza and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

What should have been a peaceful possession on the lots awarded turned out to be the beginning of the farmers anguish as a third party, in the person of Susan Bedro, former Vice-Mayor of Balasan contested their claim. It took three (3) years before an installation order was executed by DAR Regional Director Alexis M. Arsenal on June 23, 2003.

Despite such order, the DAR failed to physically install the 12 FBs citing DAR Memorandum Circular dated 23 November 2003, that complete coverage of an estate may only be effected if the case has been ‘resolved with finality’ in accordance with existing applicable rules of procedure. Since then, AFRA members have encountered all forms of harassments and threats to their lives.

On 23 July 2003 for example, AFRA member Romeo Catalan was forcibly evicted from his farm lot by the village leader after his life was threatened, upon the orders of the Vice-Mayor Susan Bedro. Three days after, when the farmers tried to recover back the land, Andres Bedro, Susan’s husband, together with Barangay Captain Rodrigo Setera and accompanied by six (6) armed goons came and started firing indiscriminately at them. The goons then torched Catalan’s house including his storage hut.

Farmer leader Hernando Baria’s death in July 23, 2005, was to be the turning point of AFRA’s claim-making initiatives. He was allegedly killed by PNP elements from the Regional Intelligence Investigation Division based in Iloilo headed by a certain P/INSP. Esperidion R. Biado III, on the pretext of raiding an NPA camp. Baria’s unresolved murder happened three (3) months after the 12 AFRA farmer beneficiaries have successfully installed themselves and occupied the farmlands entitled to them. Worst, their woes were far from over as the Bedro couple has waged battles in all fronts (legal and illegal) just to get rid of them.

Spouses Susan and Andres Bedro filed criminal and civil charges against AFRA members at the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Balasan-Carles. The criminal case for Malicious Mischief docketed as Criminal Case No. 2727-B was filed on 10 May 2003 and still pending. A civil case for Forcible Entry with prayer for Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order (Civil Case No. 251-B) was also filed in November 5, 2005 in which the local court resolution favored the plaintiffs. The ruling though, which was handed on September 5, 2006, is not yet final and executory, as the defendants through their counsel have filed a motion for reconsideration on the case.

However, the civil case decision ushered a new round of hostilities afflicting the hapless farmers. On October 11, 2006, at around 5:30 in the morning, Andres Bedro (Susan’s husband) accompanied by about 30 armed men on board a cargo truck, a pickup and a motorcycle swooped down on the unsuspecting farmers and destroyed their crops (bananas, papayas, legumes and vegetables) planted on a 1-hectare farm through their organization’s sustainable agriculture project.

Jovita Baria, (Hernan’s widow) who was gathering coconut dried leaves at the time of the incident, tried to stop Bedro and his men but to no avail. Instead, she was harassed and beaten by one of the attackers. Then, allegedly, Andres Bedro aimed his .45 caliber pistol to the helpless farmers while threatening them to immediately leave the area. By the time the local Philippine National Police (PNP) arrived, the farm lot was leveled off to the ground including the hut of another member Romeo Catalan.

Three (3) days after, in October 14, 2006, Johnny Catalan, a 28 year-old son of Romeo Catalan and his family was awakened by gunshots fired at his house late in the night, around 11:00 in the evening. The family scampered for safety fearing for their lives particularly that of Johnny who was a witness to the killing of farmer leader Hernan Baria.

For fear of their lives, 21 AFRA farmer beneficiaries and their families sought refuge and stayed at the Balasan municipal gymnasium. In October 16, 2006 AFRA members held a mass rally at the town plaza decrying the harassment and intimidation of Andres Bedro and his goons. The farmers particularly demanded that Bedro together with his men leave the place to secure the farmers’ means of subsistence and a military detachment be established inside the farm premises to restore order and deter any further harassment or intimidation. Their plea however, fell on deaf ears.

The violent incidents that have been boldly carried out with impunity have careened and were way beyond control. Recently, AFRA President Ronald Ocson, barely escaped death when he was shot and hit on the leg. The shooting incident occurred on 30 October 2006, around seven in the evening while Ronald was sitting at the main door of his father’s house.

Ocson’s 14-year old daughter, Rowena Joy witnessed the incident. She was at the window of her grandfather’s house and saw the alleged gunman, a certain Roberto “Kasey” Jordan, drew his .45 caliber pistol and fired at the direction of her father. Witnesses revealed that Kasey Jordan was a best friend of Andres Bedro. The police, who only responded the morning after, failed to apprehend the suspect.

The fact that the supposed perpetrators of the crimes remain at large, underscores their tremendous political clout in the community and that they are above the law. This however, has not dissuaded AFRA members in continuing with their struggle. That one day, the land would be theirs to peacefully cultivate thereby securing their human rights to subsistence and that of the succeeding generations.

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With reports from:

PROGRESO

UNORKA

9 November 2006