2 armed groups enter Baguio Stock Farm; disarmed by cops

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- Two different armed groups recently intruded into the Baguio Stock Farm here, Dept. of Agriculture- Cordillera Administrative Region officials told the City Council here last week.
    Lawyer Jennilyn Dawayan, DA-CAR regional technical director for research and regulations, and Robert Domoguen, head of DA-CAR Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (DA-CAR BABRC), narrated how the two groups had set foot in the stock farm which is covered by Proclamation 603, Series of 1940.
    The land where the stock farm is located is reserved for animal breeding purposes of the national government by virtue of Proclamation No. 603.
    According to the narrative report of DA-CAR BABRC, a group attempted to survey a ten-hectare lot within the stock farm in May, claiming it is a private property.
    This was followed by a series of trespassing incidents from June 14 until July 15 which were reported to Baguio City Police Office Station 10.
    Dawayan said the group was in possession of a copy of an Original Certificate of Title (OCT) issued by the Land Registration Authority.
    She said the OCT overlapped Proclamation No. 603.
    Armed security guards were also seen in the area multiple times despite being told by Domoguen to withdraw.
    He said there were 27 security guards hired by the land title owner from a security agency whose office was located outside the region, outnumbering the government’s 25 security guards safeguarding the 94-hectare stock farm.
    Joining the DA-CAR representatives during the forum with the council, BCPO City Director Glenn Lonogan said the intruders' firearms had been confiscated on the ground that the security agency had no license to operate outside of its base.
    He said the Regional Civil Service Security Unit (RCSU), upon verifying the violation, will impose administrative sanctions against the security agency. 
    Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan urged Lonogan to designate police officers to constantly patrol the area to ensure maximum security.
    In a statement by Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued on June 30 through the City Public Information Office, the chief executive likewise tasked the BCPO to ensure that the stock farm is free from “unwanted intrusions.”
    Dawayan informed the council that the DA-CAR had sought the help of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources to verify areas within and outside of the land covered by Proclamation No. 603.
    Initial results of the research bared there were OCTs and Certificates of Ancestral Land Title (CALTs) that overlapped the proclamation, she said. 
    As for possible filing charges against the involved personalities, the DA-CAR official said the necessary documents are now being prepared to be forwarded to the central office for legal action.
    According to incident report, the stock farm was again intruded on June 27 by a different group who insisted to survey a portion of land which overlapped the 10-hectare lot claimed by the first group.
    Domoguen said they appeared to be armed just like the first group.  
    Councilor Benny Bomogao requested the DA-CAR and BCPO to furnish the council and the City Legal Office with copies of all the documents relative to subsequent trespassing incidents to be studied by both for assistance the city government may extend.
    Domoguen bemoaned the deplorable acts of the two groups, describing their demeanor as hostile and intimidating. 
    “They are bringing a different approach, character, and culture into the way we usually do things here in the highlands. Here in Cordillera, we do things in a manner that is consultative. We resolve problems together,” Domoguen said.
     “The stock farm is for everyone. That is why we do our best to produce livestock and crops. We want the trees to continue growing. We could all be ecologists or environmentalists just like our ancestors,” he said.
    Reports earlier said heavily armed security guards of the Dragon Knights Security Agency who intruded over a 10-hectare property within the Dept. of Agriculture – Cordillera property here in barangay Dontogan were disarmed by personnel of the Baguio City Police Office Station 10 last week.
    The guards claimed the area was their client’s property that is why they were guarding the area.
    The site is part of the former Baguio Dairy Farm but is now the DA – Cordillera’s Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center.
    The Baguio Finest Security Agency, who were hired by the DA Cordillera to man the BABRC and its surroundings that belong to the government, first reported the presence of these security personnel in the area claimed by a private individual.
    The Dragon Knights guards arrived from Metro Manila to Baguio City last week and their presence was noted and caused unease and fear among employees of the BABRC.
    Their head was reportedly called by the administrators of the government agency for a dialogue.
    The general manager of Dragon Knights claimed that they have coordinated their presence and operation in the area with the Police Regional Office Cordillera and BCPO station 10 including the Office of the Barangay Captain of Dontogan which said offices denied.
    Dragon Knights has no license to operate (LTO) in the city which means the agency do not have a legal authority to operate outside of their base and at the contested property, said Mayor Magalong.
    The head of the unlicensed security agency said they will stay in the area until such time that the “land title” of their client will be cancelled, the BABRC said.
    They did not disclose the name of the client pending verification and legal process.
    Police told them to move out which they did.