Victor Montalvo, president of the United Municipal Agrarian Reform Officers Association of Negros Occidental, said yesterday that Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman has assured the municipal agrarian reform officers in Negros Occidental that his office is ready to assist them and said they should work as a team in the land distribution program.

Montalvo said that during a meeting in Manila Wednesday they discussed the manifesto signed by UMANO members in reaction to the transfer of PARO Stephen Leonidas from Negros Occidental. Also present during the meeting was Undersecretary Narciso Nieto, he said. In the manifesto, UMANO members questioned the transfer of Leonidas and expressed their dismay over what they called the apparent pampering by DAR central office of the Task Force Mapalad.

Montalvo said Pangandaman reminded him that DAR local officials have to respect orders from the central office. He also explained that the orders go through a certain process of deliberation and discussion, he said.

Montalvo added that he brought to the meeting all documents supporting UMANO's allegations.

"We only want to let the central office know that the MAROs in Negros Occidental are aware of what is happening in the implementation of CARP in Negros and we are only pushing for what we think is right," he said.

He added that Pangandaman also told him that DAR is not playing favorites with the TFM but treats the organization just like other farmers' group involved in CARP implementation.

He added that with all the uproar caused by the transfer of Leonidas, where TFM's tricks were exposed, they are expecting a "ceasefire" in Velez-Malaga.

The TFM may lie low for a while and let things cool off now that they are exposed, Montalvo also said. *NAB

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