Villagers flee for fear of violence in land dispute

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines—About 140 persons fled their homes when unidentified men believed to be followers of a clan involved in a land dispute with another clan arrived in the outlying village of Patadon with high-powered firearms.

Psalmer Bernalte, the city’s information officer, said the displaced families were now housed at the Barangay Amas Elementary School and have refused to go back to their homes since Wednesday despite assurances by officials it was now safe.

Bernalte said the residents wanted the dispute settled first because they feared it might erupt in violence as it did in the past.

The disputed land is part of a reserved area within the Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center of the Department of Agriculture.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista said the city government was investigating  the ownership of the land so the dispute could be put to rest once and for all.