NEGROS ORIENTAL, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 4, 2008) - A Filipino farmer was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while outside his house in the former property of former Negros Oriental Rep. Herminio Teves in the village of Villareal in Santa Catalina here.
Edna Sobrecaray, spokesperson of the peasant group called Task Force Mapalad said Arnaldo Hoyohoy, 40, was shot at around 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday. He left behind his wife and four children.
Hayohoy's father, Romualdo, is a CLOA (Certificate of Land Ownership Award) holder and his brother Alexander was among a group of farmers who joined the two-month camp out in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City to press for the distribution of the 61-hectare Teves property.
Hoyohoy also was among those who led the land entry on November 6 in the former Teves estate while other farmers who camped in front of DAR Central office held a two-week hunger strike.
Sobrecaray condemned the murder. She said that while they still have to establish the motive for the killing, “the death of Hoyohoy underscores the need for authorities to provide protection to farmer-beneficiaries.”
Hoyohoy’s wife Lorna said they were inside the house near the property’s gate, together with Hoyohoy’s father and brother Alexander when they heard a gunshot.
They said they rushed outside the house and saw Hoyohoy sprawled on the ground with a wound on his right cheek, and on inspection found an exit wound on the neck.
They immediately brought Hoyohoy to Bayawan City Hospital but due to lack of equipment, the hospital dispatched an ambulance to bring Hoyohoy to Dumaguete City.
Hoyohoy succumbed to his wound at around 8:30 p.m. while on the way to Dumaguete City.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, who was one of the personalities who helped the farmers acquire the Teves property, condemned the killing. “I fear that this might be connected to the recent installation of the farmers in the property, but I hope it’s not,” Pimentel said.
Witnesses, including Caranoche Councillor Dennis Sales and Carlos Magli told the Santa Catalina police that he saw the gunman wearing a green shirt pointed his weapon and fired at Hayohoy who was about to close their house’s gate. The unidentified gunman escaped with another companion, who acted as his lookout. The assailant also left his slippers.
Initial police report said the suspects fled toward the Negros Oriental State University where a student spotted them.
Hoyohoy’s father, who was granted CLOA by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in 1997, is among the 30 CLOA holders installed in the property by agrarian officials on November 12 after almost 11 years of legal battle with the landowners. (With a report from Lani Factor)
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