Armed men allegedly fire at farmers in disputed Cavite land

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 1:05 p.m.) — Armed men reportedly fired at farmers’ protest camp in the disputed Lupang Ramos in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Monday evening.

Eddie Billones, spokesperson of Katipunan ng mga Lehitimong Magsasaka at Mamamayan ng Lupaing Ramos, told Philstar.com that armed men believed to be hired by land agent Rudy Herrera and Langkaan Uno barangay councilor Nestor Pangilinan and a certain Angelito Tolentino fired at a group of farmers at around 10 p.m. Monday.

There were around 40 individuals, composed of farmers and student volunteers, encamped in Lupang Ramos when at least 10 gunshots were heard, Billones added.

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No one was reported to be hurt.

“Walang nasaktan at casualty. Nung bumangon sila medyo nakita nila at nakapaghanda sila kaya nung babarilin sila, bigla silang tumakbo at dumapa,” Billones said.

He also said that Dasmariñas City Police were able to recover three empty shells of 9mm and one empty shell of m16 rifle.

According to Precint Commander Edwin Sotto, the incident is under investigation.

“Both parties agreed [na] tanggaling ang mga harang at pag-usapan nang maayos,” he told Philstar.com.

For decades, KASAMA LR has cultivated 104 hectares of the 372-hectare Lupang Ramos, which is “owned” by Emerito Ramos.

Lupang Ramos was originally included in the list of farmlands and haciendas that should be distributed freely under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. However, a Supreme Court decision in 2011 ruled that Lupang Ramos should be exempted from CARP.

The conflict reportedly started on Saturday when Herrera and Pangilinan, accompanied by 40 men armed with bolos and batons, claimed that the land is theirs.

They continued to intimidate the farmers by challenging them with a gun duel. — Gaea Katreena Cabico