LAND reform beneficiaries in Quezon urged the Commission on Appointments not to confirm the appointment of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre who is allegedly trying to eject them from the l50-hectare Hacienda Tulungan in Mulanay, Quezon that had already been awarded to them in 1994.
Carlos Icaro, president of Hacienda Tulungan Farmers Settlers Association, said Aguirre’s appointment as justice secretary only emboldens him and his family to commit more abuses against the farmers who have been tilling the land for almost 50 years.
“There have been several times we suffered physical and verbal abuse from him and his people for not heeding his order to pay P300 monthly rental for the land that is rightfully ours under the land reform program,” Icaro told Manila Standard.
The group is also preparing corruption charges against Aguirre for allegedly forcing them to pay rental for land which was already paid for by the government on behalf of land reform beneficiaries.
But Aguirre denied oppressing the farmers as he was never directly involved in managing Hacienda Tulungan and clarified that the farmers were referring to 40 hectares that were never awarded to the farmers and were left to the company that owned the land.
Aguirre blamed Mulanay Mayor Joselito Ojeda for instigating the farmers against the Aguirre family, but the mayor denied he had any interest in the hacienda and only the Aguirres stand to benefit from the dispute with the farmers.
Icaro maintained that many farmers will testify against Aguirre and his brother Rodolfo, one of the Hacienda Tulungan land reform beneficiaries who has since been acting as the manager of the estate.
“Aguirre’s Gestapo-like manner against us lowly farmers who only derived our daily living to the land we till, should be stop,” Icaro said, asking senators to look into their complaint against the Aguirres.
Sometime November last year, Icaro said armed men, identified with the Aguirre family, prevented them from repairing the damage caused by a tuphoon and blocked the road toward their homes.
Earlier this week, Aguirre’s men also closed off the access road to the farmers’ homes and installed “no trespassing” sign at the gate as if claiming ownership of the land.
Icaro said the 150-hectare estate was placed under land reform in the 1990s and the farmers were given their certificates of land ownership award in 1994.
But the Department of Agrarian Reform recalled the CLOAs in 1997 after the agency discovered discrepancies that were causing fighting among the beneficiaries.
“We are saddened by the numerous form of threats, harassment and intimidation from the hands of Aguirre and his family who is acting as the new owner of the land,” Icaro lamented.