Cops, soldiers awarded for CARP participation

CEBU - For their active participation in successfully carrying out Agrarian Reform programs, police and military personnel of Region 7 received a plaque of appreciation and P5,000 cash from the Department of Agrarian Reform.

DAR-7 yesterday awarded regional police director Ronald Roderos, deputy regional director for administration Federico Terte, Regional Operations and Planning Division chief Louie Oppus and Regional Legal Service chief lawyer Ludovico Vistal Cutaran.

The awardees from PNP Negros Oriental were provincial director Augusto Marquez, deputy provincial director for Operations Rey Lyndon Lawas, Bayawan City police chief Roy Abella, 705th Provincial Mobile Group chief Julius Munez and Municipality of Sta. Catalina police chief Mario Jungco.

Armed Forces of the Philippines officers who were recognized were Philippine Army 302nd Brigade commander Cesar Yano, 79th Infantry Battalion commander Erwin Bernard Neri and 302nd Brigade Civil Military Operations officer Anastacio Suaybaguio, Jr.

They were awarded for their military assistance in ensuring the peaceful and orderly installation of 30 Agrarian Reform beneficiaries in the former Teves Landholding in Villareal, Bayawan City and Caranoche Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, last November 12.

The 61-hectare private agricultural land in Sta. Catalina and Villareal formerly belonging to the Teves clan was acquired by Compulsory Acquisition and Voluntary offering. 

The strong resistance from the Teveses for their land in Sta. Catalina delayed the distribution and title holding by 11 years and was finally realized last month.

The decision of the Supreme Court to award the land to the beneficiaries was the basis for the installation.

The plaques of appreciation were personally awarded by DAR Assistant Secretary Dominador Andres who directed DAR-7 regional director Rodolfo Inson to also give P5,000 to each awardee during his speech. Andres represented Agrarian Secretary Nasser Pangandaman in the event.

Andres gave credit to the police and military for their valuable and immeasurable contribution in advancing DAR’s cause which is the cause for improving the life of small farmers through the comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

“It is known that in pursuing the program, we are confronting a very powerful bloc, the landlords, whose political influence cannot be underestimated. We cannot count the number of times that our people were subjected to various forms of harassment, be it legal or illegal,” Andres said.

“In those situations when our lives and limbs are at risk, we often find our distinguished guests and awardees coming to our rescue. You are just too willing to shield us from harm, even at the risk of your own lives and limbs as well as of your own careers,” he added. — Jessica Ann Pareja with AJ de la Torre (CIT Masscom intern)/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)