Lawyer Magdaleno Peña yesterday said he has agreed to help find relocation sites for the 80 percent or 2,400 of the 3,000 alleged squatters facing an ejection case in his and his clan's property in Pulupandan town.

He made the announcement during a dialog organized by the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod and attended by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia, Nestor Bayona, representative of Gov. Joseph Marañon, and leaders of the nine affected barangays.

"I promised the Bishop that I will help the 80 percent, who have communicated with me and sought my help. After all, they have been using our land for 50 years. I will continue taking care of them," Pena told the DAILY STAR in a telephone interview. Meanwhile, Mondia said that Peña has agreed to talk to him on possible alternatives for the remaining 20 percent or 600 alleged squatters, who did not joined the barangay conciliation talks.

"But he (Mondia) has to convince me," Peña said, without elaborating.

Mondia said they are eyeing the Pag-ayon area in Sitio Pucatod as a possible relocation site for 400 households.

He appealed to Peña to open the access roads so vehicles carrying materials to develop the relocation site can pass.

But Peña said he is merely protecting his fishponds which are near the proposed relocation site.

"If they fight me, I will fight back," Peña said, referring to what he claimed as violent actions of some disgruntled homeowners who refuse to leave their property.

But SAC director Fr. Anecito Buenafe, in a separate interview, assured Pulupandan residents not to fear any violence, saying the concerned parties in the case have agreed to heed the call of Bishop Navarra to contribute to the moves for a win-win solution.

"There was sincerity and openness from both sides," he said.

Mondia said he was not completely satisfied with the outcome of the dialog but said he was happy that there was a "little remedy" to the problem.

He also said that the Provincial Government is willing to help in buying land for a relocation site, using the revenues generated from the back taxes on the land in the town.

Diego Malacad, spokesperson of the Crusade Against Monopoly and Massive Political Harrasment in Pulupandan, reiterated their appeal to the provincial government to help find a relocation site and send food and medical assistance to those affected by the ejection case. *CPT

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