The 30 hacienda workers suspected of hurling big stones at the Task Force Mapalad members who were installed by Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman on March 22 in the contentious Hacienda Velez-Malaga, Brgy. Robles, La Castellana, remain free men, although the incident had caused damages to properties.

Senior Inspector Regidor Alvarado, officer-in-charge of the La Castellana police, yesterday said the 30 farm workers were released from the police custody after the installation of TFM members, and after taking down their names for record purposes.

Alvarado said there is no indication yet from DAR or TFM members on whether or not they will pursue complaints against hacienda union and cooperative members. Windshields of passenger buses and police vehicles were damaged by the stone-throwing incident, although no one was reported hurt, police records showed.

Some of the TFM members who were pelted with stones, were also seen hurling stones back.

Alvarado said peace and order at the hacienda remains normal.

Two platoons of the 6th Regional Mobile Group troopers and soldiers of the 11th Infantry Battalion were left in the hacienda to augment 3rd Provincial Mobile Group members and paramilitary troopers manning a police outpost in the hacienda.

Alvarado said the killing of TFM member Pepito Santillan Sr. in previous months, remains unsolved, without any breakthrough in the identification of his assailants.*GPB

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