Farmers and residents of Barangay Taltal in Masinloc, Zambales barricaded and resolutely stood against the Yap family’s demolition of their 32-hectare farmland in Sitio Togue on June 19. During the demolition, police arrested five peasant leaders and members of the Association of Farmers and Fisherfolk in Barangay Taltal (Sammbat).

Sheriff Roy Mendones of the Provincial Sheriff’s Office at the Regional Trial Court of Iba, Zambales, led the demolition team, with about 70 police officers, that stormed the community. Police detained the group’s spokesperson Neil Edward Geroca, Sammbat secretary Claire Elfalan, and members Elmer Nollas, Elmer Madarang, and Alex Mose.

The farmers will be charged with obstruction of justice, direct assault, resistance and disobedience (or violation of Revised Penal Code Article 151), and physical injury. Police claim to have confiscated molotov cocktails and slingshots.

The demolition proceeded despite a picket-dialogue by Sammbat at the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office (DARPO) in Iba, Zambales on June 10. At that time, they asked the department to conduct another investigation regarding their claim and rights to the land.

SAMMBAT is a group of about 90 farmers and fisherfolk (400 individuals including families) who live in nearly 100 households within the 32-hectare land. Daniel and Edgardo Yap are claiming the land which they have been tilling since the Japanese occupation.

The 32-hectare parcel is part of the total 55-hectare land originally listed under the government’s land distribution program. In 1992, DAR exempted or delisted the entire land from the program.

Nevertheless, the government distributed 23 hectares in 2004, promising to later distribute the remaining 32 hectares. Farmers and fisherfolk continued to cultivate and develop the land in Barangay Taltal.

In 2004, DARPO broke its promise to distribute the remaining land and instead declared the 32 hectares as “not suitable for agriculture.” The farmers were then aware that this was in preparation for land conversion pushed by the Yap family.

Challenging the DAR 1992 Exemption Order and DARPO decision, SAMMBAT held a dialog with the DAR Central Office in June 2024. They filed a petition on September 2024 to reverse the exemption order. The agency has yet to issue a decision.

After relentless demands, the farmers obtained in March a Certificate of Pendency declaring an ongoing dispute over the land. They submitted this document and other evidences to Zambales court.

The Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luson and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas expressed unity with the Taltal residents’ struggle. They called everyone to support and go to Barangay Taltal to join the community’s fight.