LA CASTELLANA - Angry workers wept, while others jubilantly declared a partial victory yesterday as 57 farmer beneficiaries were installed amid the threat of violence by Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman on a portion of Hacienda Velez-Malaga here.

The installation was enforced with the help of 245 6th Regional Mobile Group cops headed by Senior Supt. Pedro Merced and about 100 Army soldiers after more than four hours of negotiations for a peaceful resolution bogged down.

The army and police were brought in to contain resistance from members of the Hacienda Malaga Independent Workers Union and the Hacienda Malaga-Cuenca Multi-Purpose Cooperative .

29-DAY HUNGER STRIKE LIFTED
Cuenca to file raps
vs. Pangandaman
BY CARLA GOMEZ

LA CASTELLANA -- Landowner Roberto Cuenca and leaders of the Hacienda Malaga Independent Workers Union and the Hacienda Malaga-Cuenca Multi-Purpose Cooperative yesterday said they are filing charges against all those responsible for the installation of Task Force Mapalad members on Hacienda Velez-Malaga here yesterday.

The charges will include all Department of Agrarian Reform officials and personnel at the installation led by Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, and members of the police 6th Regional Mobile group and Army who enforced the installation, Mario Diaz, lawyer of Cuenca and the coop and union members, said.

Local officials slam
lack of coordination
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Negros Occidental government officials yesterday slammed the Department of Agrarian Reform for installing farmer beneficiaries affiliated with Task Force Mapalad on Hacienda Velez-Malaga in La Castellana town, without coordinating with them, despite the threat of violence breaking out.

Governor Joseph Marañon said he and La Castellana Mayor Enrico Elumba expected that DAR Secretary Nasser Pangadaman and other officials would inform them of the installations.

To his dismay, Marañon said, Pangandaman has shown no respect for local government officials. Elumba said the DAR installed the farmer beneficiaries despite the danger that may erupt at Hacienda Velez-Malaga in La Castellana.