MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Tuesday denied that he and his family had something to do with land grabbing regarding the 1,000-hectare Hacienda Araneta in Tungkong Mangga, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
Roxas issued the disclaimer in reaction to a protest action at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) office in Quezon City by some 100 farmers who are purportedly victims of the alleged land grabbing.
"Wala kaming kinalaman sa issue na iyan. Kami ng pamilya ko ay walang kaugnayan sa lupa o sa issue na ito. Ibang mga Araneta ang may kaugnayan sa lupain na 'yan," Roxas said.
"Sinusuportahan ko at sigurado akong gagawin ng DAR ang tama at tuwid upang mabigyang hustisya ang lahat sa issue na ito," he added.
Roxas also assailed that the flyers announcing the protest action prominently displayed his name.
"Idinawit na naman ang pangalan ng pamilya ko ng iilang mga indibidwal na may agendang malisyoso," he said.