BACOLOD CITY – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has filed charges for illegal trespassing and grave threats before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office against the 18 farmers who occupied a portion of the 159-hectare Negros First Ranch in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia last month.

The farmers, claiming to be agrarian reform beneficiaries, plowed an area on the upper part of the ranch and threatened government employees assigned in the area, on April 2 and 4.

"They have to suffer the consequences of their actions," Provincial Legal Officer Jose Maria Valencia said.

Valencia said Monday they may include provincial and municipal agrarian reform officers as additional respondents in the criminal complaints.

"(We may also include them) if the farmers will claim that they were ordered to occupy a portion of the ranch because it has already been placed under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program," he said.

The province bought the 159-hectare property from the Arguelles family more than a year ago to develop the area into a ranch for thousands of livestock, including cattle and sheep, it has purchased from Australia.

Valencia said Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. had written the Department of Agrarian Reform that the process for the transfer of the land title to the Negros First Ranch was ongoing and asked for clearance for CARP exemption.

Still, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Office issued a notice of coverage to the 50-hectare property (not only five hectares as earlier reported) within the ranch.

"To me, that was not only disrespectful, but an arrogant response to the governor," Mr. Valencia said.

Meanwwhile, Enrique C. Paderes, OIC provincial agrarian reform officer II- North, said Monday he has asked the provincial government to seek an exemption and cease and desist order from the DAR Regional Office 6 for the covered 50-hectare property.

Paderes said in a press briefing Monday he has met with Valencia and they agreed that the province submit the documents for exemption.

"We requested them to seek a CDO from the regional director for us to temporarily stop the coverage," he said.

Mr. Paderes said they issued a notice of coverage to the original owners because the sale of the property was not annotated to the title.*NLG