Land conflict between families, one of them related to controversial rebel-turned politician Vicente Bacordo, yesterday triggered an encounter between soldiers of the 11th Infantry Battalion and a group of heavily armed men believed to be members of the breakaway Revolutionary Proletarian Army rebel faction in Purok Buri Brgy. Kumaliskis, Salvador Benedicto town.

Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil, 11th IB commander, yesterday said his troops had responded to reports on the presence of armed men in the area.

On the other hand, Salvador Benedicto Mayor Cynthia de la Cruz has belied reports that Councilor Vicente Bacordo was among the alleged armed men who secured a group of people who harvested the sugarcane planted in the disputed land.

The RPA entered into peace negotiations with the government in year 2000, that was signed in Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental. Police investigations show that the families of Conrado Abay, and his son, Antonio, are contesting the ownership of a 14-hectare land at Purok Lubi, Brgy. Kumaliskis in Salvador Benedicto with families of Toledano and Española.

Jolly Toledano, who sought the help of Negros Occidental police director Charles Calima, charged the Abay family with harvesting the sugarcane they had planted, while being guarded by a group of armed men allegedly led by Bacordo.

Toledano said the wife of Antonio Abay is a niece of Bacordo.

A day before the clash. Manangquil said Bacordo who was armed was seen with heavily armed men securing a group of persons, harvesting the sugarcane. He cited testimonies of "tapaseros" hired by the Abay family.

Bacordo was a member of the New People's Army before he won in two successive elections as chairman of Brgy. Bagong Silang and later as councilor of Salvador Benedicto town.

Manangquil said his troops encountered about 20 fully armed men and the firefight lasted for 15 minutes. No casualty had been reported on either sides as of press time yesterday.

De la Cruz said the ownership of the disputed land had already been awarded by a local court to the Abay family. Despite an order issued by the Murcia-Salvador Benedicto Municipal Circuits Trial Courts, she added, the Toledano and Benedicto families continue to occupy and till the land.

The mayor said the cane cutters hired by the Abay family may have been mistaken for armed men. Manangquil maintained that there was an exchange of fires between the armed group who secured the cane cutters hired by Abay and his soldiers.

He added that as of yesterday, Bacordo could not be contacted through his phone to clear the allegations against him.

Military intelligence reports said the RPA in northern Negros has split into two groups, and one faction is identified with Bacordo.*GPB

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