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First Posted on Inside Mindanao: September 26, 2007

Plea to return ancestral land
By Rosemarie Laurente-Velez
and Mark Anthony Velez

DON CARLOS, BUKIDNON—Members of the Daguiwaas clan are calling that their ancestral land be returned to them.

In interviews with Datu Balabagan Jovito Daguiwaas, Datu Maya Jose Arances, and Datu Alpatah Andatu-an—leaders and supporters of the Daguiwaas clan—they requested that the ancestral land be given to the clan because there is already a court decision.

On May 25, 1988, in the case Datu Piang Santos Daguiwaas, et.al. versus Bukidnon Farms, Inc., the Commission on the Settlement of Land Problems (COSLAP) decided in favor of Datu Piang Santos Daguiwaas that portion of the farm holdings of Bukidnon Farms, Inc. covering 1,600 hectares in Don Carlos, Bukidnon is the ancestral land of the clan of Datu Piang Santos Daguiwaas.

On August 30, 1989, the Supreme Court, with finality, affirmed the decision of COSLAP that portion of the farm holdings of Bukidnon Farms, Inc. is the ancestral land of the clan of Datu Piang Santos Daguiwaas.

Datu Balabagan said that 57 installations were already conducted in order to bring back the Daguiwaas clan to their ancestral land. He added that the Sheriff and the accompanying police officers would just deliver them to the area, stay for an hour and then leave.

“What happened? The goons shoot at us... there are those who want to deprive us of our victory. In this place (in claiming back the ancestral land), 37 members of Daguiwaas clan have died, ” Datu Balabagan said.

“It is true that CLOAs (Certificate of Land Ownership Awards given by the Department of Agrarian Reform) were issued in the territory that was won by our father (late Datu Piang Santos Daguiwaas). But the issuance of CLOA came late, the victory of Datu Piang Daguiwaas (in court) came first, ” Datu Balabagan said.

Datu Ayaman Tony Velez said that the Bantay Ceasefire program of the Mindanao People's Caucus (MPC) greatly helped because the group explained to the Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippine National Police, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources the need of the Daguiwaas clan to reclaim their ancestral land.

According to Mary Jane Daguiwaas-Salceda, their latest entry to the place they claim was in December 2006. She said the men of the Daguiwaas clan entered on December 25, 2006; while the women entered on December 26, 2006.

As many families of the Daguiwaas clan and supporters are already occupying a few hectares in the area they are claiming (in Barangay San Nicolas, Don Carlos), Mary Jane is requesting that they be assisted with rice and medicines since many have become sick in the area. They also called on that a Day Care Center be established in their area as some even have difficulty in writing their names.

The Sinangguyan/Norte Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, a group awarded with CLOA in the same area claimed by the Daguiwaas clan filed a case against the Daguiwaas clan before the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB).

Sinangguyan/Norte Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association alleged that the Daguiwaas clan entered, occupied and cultivated the land which they alleged is part of their CLOA.

Jessie B. Rodrigo, and others who are also holders of CLOA, also filed a case against the Daguiwaas clan before the DARAB. Same as the case filed by Sinangguyan/Norte Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, they accused the Daguiwaas clan of occupying the land which they alleged as part of their CLOA.

In the two cases filed, DARAB decided that their agency has no “jurisdiction” on said cases.

With reports from Ellen Red

END

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