Hacienda owners’ men ‘steal nuts’ from farmers

LUCENA CITY—Workers of coconut plantation owners continue to steal coconuts from land reform beneficiaries in Quezon province, a farmer leader said.

Maribel Luzara, president of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bondoc Peninsula, said some of their members in Hacienda Matias in San Francisco town reported that about 40 hacienda workers raided their coconut farms and harvested their nuts on Wednesday.

“We did not fight back in observance of Holy Week. But for how long [we would be patient], we don’t know,” Luzara said over the phone on Saturday.

The hacienda workers raided the coconut farm in Barangay Don Juan Vercelos of Alma Ravena and harvested more than 3,000 nuts worth P27,000.

The same group proceeded to the farm in the same village of Redentor Larracas, also a land reform beneficiary, and harvested 1,800 nuts worth about P15,000.

The suspects brought the stolen coconuts to the house of Guillermo Catandihan Sr., hacienda caretaker, said Luzara.

The incidents were brought to the attention of the town police which, in turn, slapped Catandihan and his companions with theft charges, said Luzara.

Luzara said the two victims are holders of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (Cloa) granted to them by the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Last Feb. 28, more than 20 hacienda workers also picked coconuts from Ravena’s farm.

In some instances, hacienda workers and guards prevented land reform beneficiaries from bringing out their coconut produce that they would have wanted to sell to copra traders in the town proper.

Luzara reiterated their call to President Aquino to stop the wave of harassment against land reform beneficiaries.

“Giving us Cloa is not enough. We need support and protection from government agencies,” Luzara said.