DAR-7 director fears for his life

CEBU, Philippines - While saying that death threats are not new to anyone working at the Department of Agrarian Reform, DAR-7 director Rodolfo Inson admitted to The FREEMAN that he now fears for his own life following the killing of a DAR chief legal officer Eleazer Casipong last January.

In an interview, Inson said he believes that Casipong’s killing was work-related. Casipong, who was counsel for agrarian reform beneficiaries in Siquijor and Negros Oriental, was shot while in transit to the neighboring town of Sibulan.

Still, Inson said he is more worried with the security of his Municipal Agrarian Reform Officials in Negros Oriental where tension between DAR and land owners is reportedly “greater”.

Immediately after Casipong’s killing, Inson requested for police escorts for each agrarian reform official in Negros Oriental but the Philippine National Police denied the request for lack of personnel.

Inson said he was forced to hire his own personal security escort.

He said he told agrarian reform officials to encourage them “to be brave and strong and to just remain honest in their job.”

“I told them that if we just remain truthful and efficient in our job, there’s nothing to fear about,” Inson said.

Inson said the nature of their job in implementing the agrarian reform program has since placed them in conflict especially with landowners whose properties are acquired under compulsory acquisition.

He said that while the aim of agrarian reform programs is to help Filipino farmers, this was oftentimes reportedly misunderstood, especially by powerful landlords who do not want to participate in the government’s program.

Inson said he has been with the department for 35 years and reportedly never felt fully secured. He said what he usually does is to avoid crowded public places.

Inson’s father was also killed over a land dispute in Davao many years ago. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)