Two families contesting the ownership of a disputed property in Brgy. Kumaliskis, Salvador Benedicto, with the family of Conrado Abay, yesterday called on the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the existence of armed independent groups in the town.

Complainants Jolly Toledano and Noel Benedicto, accompanied by representatives of the Broad Initiatives for Negros Development and National Commission for Indigenous People, claimed that they were harassed allegedly by the armed group of rebel-turned Councilor Vicente "Oti" Bacordo Bacordo. The daughter-in-law of Abay is a niece of Bacordo.

CHR Investigator Romeo Baldevarona said Toledano and Benedicto complained that their planted sugarcane was recently harvested by the group of Bacordo.

The land conflict between the families of Toledano, Española and Benedicto, and Abay recently triggered an encounter between soldiers and a group of armed men.

The military and police have confirmed the exchange of fire between soldiers and a group of armed men who had guarded the "tapaseros" harvesting a sugarcane plantation.

Baldevarona said they will conduct their investigations with "caution", and hear the sides of all parties involved. The alleged existence of an armed independent group cropped up after the military received reports that the RPA in northern Negros has split into two groups, and one faction is identified with Bacordo.

Col. Jerry Jalandoni, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said reported links of Bacordo to an armed group is still being validated.

Should an armed group exist, it is the job of the police to enforce law and order, Baldevarona said.

Salvador Benedicto Mayor Cynthia de la Cruz has debunked reports that Bacordo was among the alleged armed men who secured a group of people who harvested the sugarcane planted on a property disputed in Brgy. Kumaliskis, Salvador Benedicto.*GPB

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