Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday admonished Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, and called him "disrespectful," for failing to coordinate with the provincial government on their activity at the contentious Hacienda Velez-Malaga in Brgy. Robles, La Castellana.

"They just trespass here. I find it very unbecoming, not notifying us (about his presence). I don't even know he's here," the governor told reporters in an interview at a Bacolod hotel at noon, after joining La Carlota Mayor Jeffrey Ferrer who announced his decision to run for Congress. Marañon said that, since DAR is facing a "big problem" at Hacienda Velez-Malaga, Pangandaman might also want to ask for his assistance. The governor's outburst had apparently been relayed to Pangandaman, so that minutes after Marañon talked to reporters, Ferrer told the governor that Pangandaman was coming to meet with him.

Pangandaman was holed up the Provincial Agrarian Reform Office, since he arrived in Bacolod at about 6:20 a.m., where he met with local DAR personnel, until he came to see Marañon.

At 1:10 p.m., a haggard-looking Pangandaman arrived at the hotel and sat with the governor for a few minutes. After their talk, Marañon left Pangandaman to deal with reporters.

During the interview, the DAR chief said he wasn't able to proceed to La Castellana to install the farmers because the two contending groups were massing up at the hacienda. He said they want to prevent bloodshed. Pangandaman's presence obviously appeased Marañon for he was already in a jolly mood when he excused the DAR secretary from the interview, telling reporters that Pangandaman needed to eat lunch.

"Wala na problema (No nore problem)," the governor said, when Pangandaman was asked if he would make it a point to coordinate with the Capitol next time.

In a later interview, Pangandaman denied snubbing Marañon, saying that he actually planned to see the governor, only that he got delayed. "Na-late lang ako. That was really my plan, that, from the DAR office I will go to the governor," he said. Marañon said he maintains that, in the implementation of the agrarian reform program, the rule of law must prevail and that there can be no shortcuts in dealing with it. He added that several years before, he had proposed the signing of a memorandum of agreement that he believes could have made the CARP implementation more efficient and peaceful.

"Unfortunately, while majority of the affected parties consented to it, the principal agency concerned had refused to agree for reasons beyond our control," Marañon said.

In his press statement, Marañon said 5th District Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, whose jurisdiction includes La Castellana, has expressed his unwavering support for his position.*NLG

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