Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 14) — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has stepped in to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of around 90 farmers, land reform advocates, and media during a “bungkalan” or land cultivation activity at Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac last week.
CHR Executive Director Jacqueline de Guia on Tuesday said they will look into the allegations of physical and mental abuse, inhumane conditions at the detention facility, and red tagging experienced by the group.
The commission’s investigation office and regional office in Central Luzon are set to look into the incident due to the complexity of the incident.
Based on initial interviews with involved parties, CHR said the farmers who took part in the activity on June 9 claimed they received their Certificate of Land Ownership Award title in 1995 for the 200-hectare disputed land, proving they are legitimate agrarian reform beneficiaries of the land. However, they are still waiting for their official installation as the decision was never enforced.
Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Vicente Danao Jr. on Monday maintained their personnel did not commit any human rights violations during their operations in Hacienda Tinang. He denied that the farmers, peasant rights advocates and volunteers were illegally arrested and kept from being released despite a court order allowing them to leave jail.
Local police claimed that the apprehended farmers used a rotovator and destroyed the sugarcane plantation owned by other farmers belonging to Agriculture Cooperative.
“With clashing claims, we hope our independent investigation can contribute in achieving greater clarity of the issue, a just and equitable resolution, as well as greater respect and protection of the rights of all,” CHR said in a statement.
DAR action
CHR urged the Department of Agrarian Reform to settle who truly owns the lands after seven farmers who were arrested asserted they are legitimate agrarian reform beneficiaries.
DAR Secretary Bernie Cruz said they are in the process of verifying the claims, assuring they will settle the agrarian dispute in Hacienda Tinang.
“Let us wait for the result of the validation being conducted by the Task Force Tinang-Tarlac and help our farmers develop their farming for the country’s food security,” Cruz said in a press release on Monday.
The agrarian reform chief added the initial hearing on the case is set on Friday.
Jobert Pahilga of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers told ANC that 100 individuals were arrested during the event. He said 83 of them were charged with malicious mischief and illegal assembly, but they were released on June 12 after posting bail.
