Officials of Task Force Mapalad yesterday said they will hold a dialog with the new provincial agrarian reform officer as soon as she arrives in Bacolod City to discuss land distribution issues and other demands of their group.

In an interview over Aksyon Radyo, Edna Sobrecaray of TFM said they have tentatively scheduled a dialog with incoming PARO Teresita Depiñosa second week of this month.

Sobrecaray also said that that transfer of PARO Stephen Leonidas from Negros Occidental to the regional office in Iloilo, was a result of his failure to implement DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman's order, particularly, the case in Hacienda Velez-Malaga in La Castellana.

Sobrecaray said the relief order issued by Pangandaman preempted TFM's move to file charges against Leonidas for obstructing the full implementation of CARP in the province.

TFM organizer Jerry Cahilig said Pangandaman was only firm in his decision to install all CLOA (Certificate of Land Ownership Award) holders in their areas.

Earlier, DAR workers' union in Negros called for the revocation of Leonidas' transfer orders saying that the move caused demoralization of employees and paralyzed the operations of CARP in the province. The group indicted DAR and Sec. Pangandaman for the unwarranted pampering of the TFM which a clear manifestation of bias against other groups of farmers.*NAB

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