By CESAR JOLITO III

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental assured farmer-beneficiaries of continued coordination with its central office on the long-running land dispute at Hacienda Escholastica in Cadiz City’s Barangay Mabini, following a violent incident on September 30 that left seven agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) injured.

DAR Chief Legal Officer Atty. Jeremiah Andrada said the 66-hectare property remains under legal contention.

While ARBs were awarded a Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) in 2004, a subsequent ruling by the Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator canceled the CLOA in the same year.

Although a 2005 appeal annulled that decision in favor of the farmers, conflicting titles surfaced in 2022 when the Register of Deeds identified another existing title to the land.

Because of this development, DAR has sought clarification from its central office on whether installation of the ARBs can proceed despite the new title issue or if restoration of the CLOA through writ of execution is legally possible.

Andrada emphasized that while the writ of installation was recalled last month, the case is not over.

“If the DAR Adjudication Board orders installation, we will implement it,” he said, adding that DAR must also ensure the safety of the ARBs and respect the landowners’ right to harvest their standing crops before any turnover.

If legal and crop issues are resolved, the installation of ARBs may only be possible by February 2026, Andrada added.

A clash occurred on Tuesday, September 30, when armed security personnel allegedly fired at farmers during a confrontation, injuring seven.

DAR officials have since initiated threat assessments and consultations with the Department of Agriculture regarding crop management while awaiting guidance from the central office./CJ, WDJ