LA CASTELLANA - Fear of an outbreak of violence after about 2,000 farm workers massed to prevent an expected installation of 122 agrarian reform beneficiaries aligned with Task Force Mapalad stopped Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman from going to Hacienda Velez-Malaga in Barangay Robles here yesterday.

Pangandaman said he came to Negros yesterday to assess the situation in Hacienda Velez-Malaga before ordering an actual installation of the TFM members. However, he said he had received confirmed reports from the Philippine National Police that members and sympathizers of the contending parties numbering thousands were massing up and "clearly preparing for a confrontation."

Double-cross, Mapalad cries
BY CARLA GOMEZ

LA CASTELLANA -- Task Force Mapalad issued a press statement yesterday morning claiming victory for the installation of its members in Hacienda Velez-Malaga in Barangay Robles here, but when that failed, they cried "Double cross" and reiterated their call for the immediate resignation of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman. The TFM statement said Pangandaman called off their installation yesterday despite massive security back up from the police and military.

Jerry Cahilig, a farmer-beneficiary, claimed there was no apparent reason for Pangandaman to call off the installation because an advanced platoon of the Philippine National Police-Regional Mobile Group had already secured the hacienda, while a company of soldiers from the 303rd Battalion was waiting for his order to enter.

Cops raid
beneficiaries' houses
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Policemen raided six houses of the rival groups of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Hacienda Velez-Malaga, Brgy. Robles, La Castellana, on Wednesday, for firearms but did not find any.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday justified the simultaneous raids, a day before the expected installation of agrarian reform beneficiaries affiliated with Task Force Mapalad, saying they were responding reports that some farmer beneficiaries possessed firearms.

The simultaneous raids were jointly conducted by operatives of the 601st Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as well as personnel of the Negros Occidental police, by virtue of search warrants issued by Judges Anita Chua and Alan P. Drilon.