Another complaint was filed yesterday against Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman before the Commission on Human Rights in Bacolod City, which also included the 6th Regional Mobile Group and some military personnel.

Romulo Espinosa, spokesman of the Hacienda Malaga Independent Workers Union, said Pangandaman pushed through the installation of 57 farmer beneficiaries last week, despite pending and unresolved cases in court. Espinosa said the setting up of blockades by the 6th Regional Mobile Group troopers as ordered by Pangandaman, in places leading to the hacienda and five town barangays, also prevented town residents from doing their daily activities and students as well as teacher from attending their classes.

He added that the installation was done without coordination with the provincial government of Negros Occidental and municipal officials of La Castellana.

Negros Occidental mayors have called for the resignation of Pangandaman and declared him "persona non grata", a move supported by Governor Joseph Maranon.

Espinosa also called "barbaric" the treatment by RMG troopers of hacienda coop and union members, who were restricted to one area under the scorching heat for more than two hours.

In the stone-throwing incident, he added, some of their members were hurt.

The Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas also joined the call for the resignation of Pangandaman for what it calls gross mishandling of the land dispute in Hacienda Velez Malaga.

KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos blamed Pangandaman for the escalation of the animosity between rival groups of agrarian reform beneficiaries Pangandaman, in a radio interview, called the move of Negros Occidental mayors "unfair", saying he was just doing his job when he installed the Velez-Malaga beneficiaries.

Romeo Baldevarona, CHR provincial chief, yesterday said they will investigate and document all claims of the hacienda coop and union members.

Landowner Roberto Cuenca is also filing contempt charges against Pangandaman, his counsel, Mario Diaz, said

Two platoons of the 6th RMG and military men were left in the hacienda to maintain peace and order in the contentious hacienda.*GPB

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