Villar in CA hearing: Why single out Vista Land?

“Galit ka ba sa akin (Are you mad at me)?”

Senator Cynthia Villar directed this question to Elvie Baladad, a farmer leader who mentioned the Villar-led property developer Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. at the hearing of the Commission on Appointment’s (CA) committee on agrarian reform on Tuesday.

In opposing the appointment of Agrarian Reform Secretary John Rualo Castriciones, Baladad questioned the nominee’s earlier statement that he would allow land conversions to continue during his stint.

In particular, Baladad cited as example the reported leveling of a hill on Boracay Island.

READ: Vista Land denies owning deforested areas in Boracay

“Yun po bang lupa sa Boracay na pinatag na bundok, na hindi na pwedeng ibalik uli na bundok ay nabigyan ng conversion o clearance ng DAR (Were they given clearance for land conversion by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)?” Baladad asked.

“Pangalawa at kung sakaling ito po ay nabigyan, ihahabla po ba nya yung Vista Land dahil illegal conversion ang nangyari (Second, if Vista Land was given clearance, would you sue the company because this is illegal land conversion)?” she added.

The mere mention of the company did not sit well with Villar.

“I just want to inform Ka Elvie Baladad, bakit ba lahat ng project ng Vista Land, ang dami-daming nagtayo ng bahay sa Pilipnas, ang dami-daming nagtayo ng industry sa Pilipinas, ang dami-daming nagtayo ng commercial sa Pilipinas, bakit ba yang binabanggit mo ay puro Vista Land (There are many home builders in the Philippines, many industry builders and commercial establishments, why mention only Vista Land)?” Villar retorted. “Galit ka ba sa akin (Are you mad at me)? Is this a political issue or is it a legitimate issue?”

Baladad said the issue she raising was legitimate, pointing to another Vista Land property in San Jose, Bulacan.

Villar, however, said the property now belongs to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“So make sure that your data are correct kasi hindi naman maganda na ang dami daming developers, ang daming mall operators, puro Vista Land ang sinasabi nyo? (Make sure that your data is correct because it’s not good that of all the developers and mall developers, you are only mentioning Vista Land),” she said.

Senator Grace Poe, who was presiding over the hearing, intervened and advised her colleagues and the oppositors to address the chair to avoid “direct confrontation.” /ee