The Philippine National Police will abide by the instructions of the Department of Agrarian Reform on the Hacienda Velez-Malaga, Brgy. Robles, La Castellana, controversy.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, yesterday said they will follow whatever are the orders of DAR, being the "main actor" in the implementation of CARP. Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday said he has instructed Franco to maintain peace and at all costs.

Mario Diaz, counsel of landowner Roberto Cuenca, in his letter to Franco, said " we plead you to observe and respect the lawful order of the court", referring to the Writ of Preliminary Injunction preventing installation issued by the La Carlota City Regional Trial Court Branch 63, sustained by the Court of Appeals, which is now pending before the Supreme Court.

Diaz reminded Franco "It is your duty to protect and property and property rights of Mr. Cuenca in whose favor the said Writ was issued and not the other way around".

About 70 armed troopers of the 612nd and 613rd Provincial Mobile Groups are expected to be deployed in the disputed property today, to prevent any untoward incident that may take place.

Franco ordered PMG troopers and La Castellana policemen to be deployed in the hacienda to exercise "maximum tolerance", if there is a resistance from any party.

He also stressed the need for the presence of other government agencies, Commission on Human Rights, among others, during the installation of TFM members, to avoid the finger-pointing if something may happened.

"The role of the police is to provide warm bodies. All the activities will be spearheaded by DAR," Franco said. He also assured the public that the police will ensure the safety of TFM members and hacienda cooperative members.*GPB

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