By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The ECJ Farmworkers Agrarian Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (Efarbemco) filed a complaint claiming the farmers’ group Task Force Mapalad (TFM) attempted to take over their land.
According to Efarbemco chairman Edgar Dela Rama, several individuals illegally trespassed on land in San Enrique owned by the cooperative on April 11; identifying Ricardo Cordova, Agosto Estoya, Nolly Nochepo, and Dante Jamora among the group. He claims over 60 individuals and their families were involved.
He added the group also set up three tents in Barangay Baliwagan, San Enrique as shelter.
Based on Dela Rama’s report to local police, “As a result, many of the sugarcane crops planted on the land were damaged.”
He also accused the group of being armed, claiming a molotov cocktail was hurled, nearly burning a tractor owned by the co-op.
The group has since been driven out of the area.
“Last year, these workers also occupied several portions of the farms, disrupting operations,” Dela Rama added.
He pointed out the group had previously requested certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs) to be distributed to them individually, which he called “impossible” because the CLOAs were initially issued to Efarbemco collectively.
Dela Rama said the cooperative offered to pay the participating interest of any member who wishes to withdraw, with some 600 beneficiaries, including 140 of the 441 members of the group, had earlier taken the option.
“We’ve given them everything within the bounds of the law, why else would they continue attempting to take over land and disrupting our operations?” Dela Rama asked.
Efarbemco filed a petition before the Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator in order to determine who is entitled to the farmland./WDJ