CHR's main office to join probe on arrest, detention of farmers, advocates in Tarlac

The Commission on Human Rights' (CHR) central office will join the probe being conducted by its Region III on the alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of farmers, land reform advocates, members of the media, and students last June 9 in Concepcion, Tarlac.
Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the CHR’s central office decided to join the investigation “given the extent and complexity of the issue at hand."
About 90 persons were arrested by the police during their "bungkalan," also known as cooperative planting, in Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion town.
De Guia said the CHR has expressed concerns on reports that those arrested were reportedly subjected to physical and mental abuse, and faced inhumane conditions at their detention facility.
CHR Region III has already started its probe and has gathered information from the arrested farmers and the Philippine National Police (PNP), she said.
Concepcion police claimed that the apprehended farmers used a rotavator and destroyed the sugarcane plantation owned by other farmers belonging to an Agriculture Cooperative.
The police also said when its members tried to pacify the farmers, they (the farmers) became unruly and tried to obstruct the law, which lead to their arrest.
The farmers, on the other hand, said they are legitimate agrarian reform beneficiaries of the land with a Certificate of Land Ownership Award title issued in 1995 for the 200-hectare disputed property.
They claimed that they were just waiting for their official installation as the decision was never enforced.
Given the disputed nature of the said land holdings, De Guia said the CHR has urged the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to step in and help resolve the land conflict.
"CHR commits to look into every aspect of the allegations of human rights violations linked to the said incident. With clashing claims, we hope our independent investigation can contribute in achieving greater clarity of the issue, a just and equitable resolution, as well as greater respect and protection of the rights of all," De Guia said.
She urged the full cooperation in the probe of all parties involved in the conflict.