Majority of the mayors in Negros Occidental have committed to support a resolution declaring Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman persona non grata and demanding his immediate resignation, La Castellana Mayor Enrico Elumba said yesterday.

Elumba said that, as of yesterday, 29 out of the 32 mayors of the Negros Association of Chief Executives had given their commitment and only three more have to be reached. The resolution against Pangandaman is in connection with the manner in which he installed on Thursday 57 farmer beneficiaries in Hacienda Velez-Malaga in La Castellana., 53 of whom were members of Task Force Mapalad.

Pangandaman last night told the DAILY STAR he was just doing his job when he installed the farmers and did not mean o disrespect to the Negros Occidental officials.

As to the call for his resignation, he said he serves at the pleasure of the president.

The resolution said, the installation was done in an uncalled for manner, claiming that it was premature because pending issues involving substantial rights were still lodged before the courts.

The installation was done without first coordinating with the provincial government of Negros Occidental and the local government of La Castellana, resulting in public disturbance, danger to lives and damage to properties, the resolution also said.

"Roads were barricaded, preventing the students and local teachers from both the Barangay Poblacion and upper barangays from attending their classes and going to and from their respective assigned barangays schools," the resolution said.

Farmers, merchants and ordinary residents were also prevented from doing their daily activities because of the barricade, it added.

The resolution also pointed out that violence, such as throwing of stones, resulted in damage of properties because negotiation processes were not properly observed .

By the use of force, one of the parties to the program is not satisfied with the installation, thus the true spirit of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law was arbitrarily and capriciously trampled, the resolution added.

Elumba said he, together with the members of the Negros ACE, condemn the acts of Pangandaman for being allegedly unethical, indicative of disrespect without due regard to local authorities, and showing apathy to the general welfare.

The DAR secretary's acts are also tantamount to grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction, ignorance of the law coupled with culpable violation of the principles and polices of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Local Government Code of the Philippines, he added.

Elumba pointed out that, under Section 2 of the Local Government Code, all national agencies and offices must conduct consultations with appropriate local government units, non-governmental and people's organizations and other concerned sectors of the community before any project or program is implemented in their jurisdictions.

The LGC also states that capabilities of local government units should be enhanced by providing them with opportunities to participate actively in the implementation of national programs and projects, he said.

The LGC states that national agencies and officers should coordinate with local government units concerned in the planning and implementation of national projects, he added.*CPG

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