By Juliane Judilla
Nine houses within the Saul family compound in Barangay San Jose, San Miguel, Iloilo, were demolished on Oct. 2 to make way for residential subdivisions by Communities Iloilo Inc., a property developer affiliated with the Villar-owned Vista Land and Landscapes Inc.
The demolition was carried out following a court order from the 14th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC), which granted “forcible entry” rights to Communities Iloilo Inc.
However, residents argued that the case should fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) due to its nature as an “agrarian dispute.”
The Iloilo Farmers and Irrigators Alliance Association (IFIAA) claimed that the dispute involves agricultural land, which should have been handled by the DAR.
A certification from the DAR could have shifted the resolution of the case to the proper agrarian channels, but the agency did not intervene.
Elmer Forro, from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Panay, who joined progressive groups in a picket rally before the demolition, argued that this case is part of a broader “systematic assault on the agricultural sector.”
Forro said the land is an irrigated area that provides water to nearby farmlands and should not be converted into commercial or residential use.
The final notice of demolition was filed by Sheriff IV Mark Emmanuel Delmo on Sept. 23, 2024, giving residents five days to vacate the premises and remove their belongings.
