'Senseless harassment!' DAR chief slams Capiz shooting that hurt 2 farmers
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Brother John Castriciones has condemned the shooting incident that led to the wounding of two farmers in Barangay Dulangan, Pilar, Capiz.

“The senseless harassment and continued unjust treatment of our farmers must stop at once!” Castriciones said on Wednesday, May 26.
The statement of the secretary came after learning that two agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) were hurt in a shooting incident on Monday night. The victims were identified as Jose Sanny Billonid, 49, and Bernard Amistoso, 51.
Castriciones disclosed that the two were both recipients of portions of Nemesio Tan landholdings. They received their respective land titles from the agency last March 23, 2021, and were installed as owners on May 11.
The secretary was up in arms over the offense committed against the small farmers. He says all they dream about is to have their own land so they may uplift their loved ones' lives.
“We will help the PNP (Philippine National Police) in any way we can to speed up the investigation and request for farmers’ protection, especially on cases involving disputed landholdings,” Castriciones said.
The Nemesio Tan property, located in the towns of Pilar and President Roxas, is a contentious one. Identified farmer-beneficiaries and heirs of Nemesio Tan were previously locked in a two-decade long tug-of-war for control over the landholdings.