Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday justified the presence of the military during the recent clash between law enforcers and farmers at the Hacienda Gantuangco in Aloguinsan town, midwest Cebu.
“As far as the presence of the military was concerned … the incident happened precisely where there is a 78th Infantry Battalion outpost. Where else should they stand? Outside of their outpost?” Garcia said during the Regional Peace and Order Council in Central Visayas (RPOC-7) meeting.
“The Philippine National Police needed the cooperation of the other stations from other towns because there had already been a gathering of pious faces carrying the badge of legality.”
Garcia was referring to militants who joined hacienda farmers in trying to block the fencing of the land last month.
Garcia said the Department of Agriculture should check the legality of groups who intervened in the Aloguinsan dispute.
Garcia made the statement after Marina Viniegas, who represented Department of Agriculture Regional Director Leo Cañeda, said militant group Anakpawis invited them to a Sept. 15 meeting.
Viniegas said Anakpawis wanted to discuss the plight of the 39 farmers and three college students who were arrested and freed on bail following a riot at the hacienda.
Garcia, however, said the group may be “exploiting any issue that they could possibly use to recruit more members.”
Chief Supt. Ager Ontog of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) offered to send Cebu Provincial Police Office Chief Senior Supt. Patrocinio Commendador to the DA to give a briefing about the incident.
Viniegas told the council that they and the Department of Agrarian Reform in Central Visayas would also hear what other groups have to say about the Aloguinsan incident.
The farmers and students were accused of attacking policemen using pieces of wood, bamboo lances, scythes, bolos, slingshots, improvised bow and arrow and knives during the enforcement of a temporary restraining order issued by the court.
The court allowed the Gantuangco family to fence a parcel of land in barangay Bonbon, Aloguinsan, but when the sheriff tried to implement the court order, the respondents allegedly argued and asserted their claim on the lot.
All those arrested were released last Sept. 3 after they posted bail.
The RPOC passed a resolution sponsored by Garcia requesting the Armed Forces o to maintain its presence in Central Visayas.
Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto, RPOC chairman, also asked the military to retain its battalion in Bohol.
Yesterday’s RPOC-7 gathering was the first with Chatto as chairman.
Senior Supt. Louie Oppus, PRO-7 deputy director for operations, said the region’s crime rate from January to August fell by 24.88 percent compared with the same period last year.
Oppus cited the foiled robbery in Robinsons Place in Cebu City.
He also cited proactive anti-crime operations like “Task Force Motorsiklo” to watch against hoodlums in motorcycles and intensified mobile and foot patrols.
Oppus said the region is “generally peaceful.”
Cebu province turned over RPOC funds in the amount of P2.86 million to Bohol province.
Out of the 41 members of the council, 34 were present during yesterday’s meeting.
The next RPOC meeting is slated in Bohol.