By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303 IB) said their source working within the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros (KR-N) said communal farms are being maintained and managed by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in certain areas of Negros.

The source added, these “Land Cultivation Areas (LCAs)” are the result of their “agrarian revolution.”

However, they lamented, the “majority of the proceeds from these LCAs only benefited the higher organs of the CPP and the KR-N, at the expense of their lowly members, who comprise 90 percent of their strength.”

303IB spokesperson, Captain Ruel Llanes, said during their monthly meeting with troops deployed to conduct Community Support Programs across Negros, they reported several communal farms were being maintained and managed by people’s organizations connected with the rebel group.

He pointed out, the communal farms stretched “hundreds of hectares.”

303IB commander, Brigadier General Eliezer Losañes, meanwhile, said communal farm is one of their sources of income.

“It is sad to note that only those high-ranking CPP officials are benefitting from the income of these land grabbed farms,” he pointed out. “The common and lowly workers were deceived by sweet promising talks.”

Losañes said the activity has to stop and they will continue their efforts to deny the group from taking advantage of the people of Negros.

He is also appealing to land owners of land-grabbed farms to come forward and file appropriate charges against the NPA.

In addition, local government officials should extend help to those landowners and workers who are victims of the injustices in Negros./DGB, WDJ