Negros Occidental police director Rosendo Franco yesterday called on the people behind a disinformation campaign not to exacerbate the peace and order problem in the Hacienda Velez-Malaga property in Brgy. Robles, La Castellana.

Text messages have circulated saying that a hunger strike was taking place in the hacienda and truckloads of alleged armed goons are now prowling the area to prevent the installation of TFM affiliated agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Franco said the situation in the hacienda is now back to normal, and there is no indication of a possible clash between the rival groups of agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Twenty-five policemen and members of the Civilian Volunteer's Organization are manning the police outpost stationed near the hacienda in the barangay. Franco said there is also no truth to reports that he had pulled out policemen from the area.

In fact, he added, he has ordered Supt. Iver Apellido, 613rd PMG director, and Senior Inspector Regidor Alvarado, newly-designated La Castellana police chief, to conduct a routine patrol in the hacienda.

Police records show that TFM member Pepito Santillan was the latest fatality in the continuing agrarian reform problem in Hacienda Velez-Malaga, Brgy. Robles, La Castellana.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had earlier ordered two Cabinet secretaries to look into reports of a hunger strike in Hacienda Velez- Malaga, which turned out to be false information.

Franco said that if the DAR sets the date of the installation of the farmer beneficiaries affiliated with TFM, they will ensure that no violence takes place.

DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman said on Friday that the continued threat of violence is preventing the government from installing farmer beneficiaries in the hacienda.*GPB

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