Regional director Rodolfo Inson of the Department of Agrarian Reform said yesterday that military detachments will be provided in problematic areas covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in Negros Oriental.

At a discussion with farmer beneficiaries in CARP-covered areas of the province yesterday, Inson said that among these problematic areas are the Polo Plantation in Tanjay owned by former Senator Rene Espina, and the Ruben Carballo Estate in Bais City.

Inson, however, clarified that these military detachments are temporary, and urged the farmers to unite, plan their action, and “hold on.”

It was in the Polo Plantation that former regional director Datu Yusop Mama was refused entry by the blue guards and, in the presence of some members of the media, blue guards fired their service shotguns.

During the same forum, the municipal agrarian reform officer of Tanjay Gerry Gumalo also narrated an incident where survey teams had been subjected to threats and intimidation.

The ARBs themselves confided to Inson that they have to stay in one area inside the hacienda using tents, for fear of harassments from the blue guards.*JG

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