The Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative-1 (HEARBCO-1) has disowned the statements made by one Robert Mantilla during the Kapehan sa Dabaw that the cooperative has no conflict with the break-away Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Inc. headed by one Mely Yu.
The Lapanday Foods Incorporated issued this clarification on Monday night, citing as proof a December 14, 2016 statement attributed to HEARBCO-1 Chairman Guillermo A. Tuyor.
In that statement, Tuyor clarified that in the light of incidents in the areas under HEARBCO-1 in Barangay Madaum, the coop officers and members “disagreed with actions of the break-away group.”
In the same statement, Tuyor also assured HEARBCO-1’s commitment to honor its contractual commitments with Lapanday Foods Corporation.
LFC added that Yu’s group had initially accepted the validity of the agreements between HEARBCO-1 and LFC “but then turned vicious and destructive in their attacks against the HEARBCO-1 and LFC.”
On the claim made by Mantilla that it was not HEARBCO-1 that hired the guards who were responsible for allegedly shooting of individuals claiming to be MARBAI members, LFC stressed that the security of the HEARBCO-1 area is a major concern for the cooperative, and it hires and pays for this security.
“When Mely Yu’s group started its harassment and disruptive activities, Lapanday sought local police assistance to ensure the peace and order in the HEARBCO-1 areas,” said LFC.
It added that the ensuing tension caused by the breakaway group of Mely Yu had jeopardized operations, also as several armed men were seen in the area, who most likely have been responsible for instigating the violence. According to LFC, it has “in fact welcomed the results of the police investigation into this alleged shooting incident that cleared Lapanday of any involvement”.
The company firmly stated that MARBAI has deprived members of HEARBCO-1 “who are themselves agrarian reform beneficiaries” their means of livelihood when Mely Yu and her breakaway group, along with their supporters illegally occupied a portion of HEARBCO-1 plantations on December 9, 2016.
“They destroyed some 20 hectares that were rendered useless, in. During this illegal occupation, they also resorted to stealing farm equipment and tools which have remained unaccounted for as well as the illegal harvesting and selling of fruits to buyers who, together with Mely Yu, are now subject of various criminal cases,” said LFC.
HEARBCO-1 also stressed that the security sweep conducted on 31 December 2016, when the supporters of Mely Yu’s group abandoned the area, was conducted on the direction of and for the benefit and protection of HEARBCO-1. They added, it was their members who were deprived of their lands which they illegally occupied and must be allowed to return to their lands. The fixing of the destroyed portions of HEARBCO-1 registered lands has started with the clearing of the site to prepare it for farm rehabilitation.
LFC said that it has always participated in any forum or meeting, including those convened by the Department of Agrarian Reform and the House of Representatives, that had already previously conducted several public hearing in relation to agri-venture agreements (AVA), cooperatives, and the agrarian reform law, among others. Lapanday said that it will participate, maintain and assert its lawful and rightful position in any forum where it is invited.
On Yu’s statement that MARBAI has sent a letter to Fidel Agcaoilli of National Democratic Front (NDF) asking their assistance in settling the dispute with LFC, LFC emphasized the on-going peace talks between the government and the NDF, while laudable, “do not have any jurisdiction on the contracts that are, as between the parties and by law, already ruled as legally binding.”
The company also clarified that there was “no truth nor basis” to the claim made during the Kapehan sa Dabaw that HEARBCO-1 was offered Pesos 6,000 for alleged dispersal activity.
“The truth was HERABCO-1 issued Resolution No. 105, Series of 2016, which was received by LFC on October 16, 2016 for a request for the financial needs of its members for the Christmas season,” said LFC.
“This request was made much earlier than when Mely Yu and her breakaway group conducted their latest disruptive activities in HEARBCO-1 registered farm lands,” the company added.
