Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25)— President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government agencies to resolve land disputes in Negros Oriental, Malacañang said Tuesday amid the reported killings in the area.
In his media briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte was “appalled” by the string of killings in the province, stressing that the government will continue to probe the incidents.
“Ang sinabi po ng presidente is he will be completely neutral pero gagampanan ng estado ang kanyang obligasyon na imbestigahan, litisin, at parusahan ang mga tao na pumapatay sa Negros Oriental,” Roque said about Duterte’s recent visit to Dumaguete City, where the chief executive met with the regional peace and order council.
“Inatasan po ng Presidente ang DENR na resolbahin ang mga conflicting claims to untitled land na pinagmumulan ng mga patayan,” he claimed. “Ang sabi po ng presidente, everything else being equal, resolve these disputes in favor of the poor.”
[Translation: What the President said was that he would be completely neutral, but the government will continue to perform its obligation to investigate, prosecute, and punish those behind the killings in Negros Oriental. The President ordered the DENR to resolve conflicting claims to untitled land that is the root cause of the killings. The president said, everything else being equal, resolve these disputes in favor of the poor.]
The Philippine National Police on May 16 reported that five persons were killed inside their respective homes in Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental. Initial police investigation showed the victims were “possibly suspected” by rebels as government informants.
Meanwhile, Duterte also tasked the Department of Agrarian Reform to expedite the distribution of land to farmer-beneficiaries, Roque revealed.
“Dahil sinabi ni Presidente na sa Negros ay talaga naman pong ang kawalan ng lupa ng mga magsasaka ay isang dahilan kung bakit nag-aaklas ang mga rebelde,” Roque claimed.
[Translation: Because the President said that in Negros, land issues involving farmers are some of the reasons why the rebels have taken up arms.]
