ORDERS LAND DISPUTES RESOLVED

Duterte vows to address Negros Oriental killings –Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to address the appalling killings in Negros Oriental, the Palace said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Chief Executive expressed the sentiments during the Regional Peace Council meeting in Dumaguete on Monday afternoon.

"Nagparating po ng mensahe ang ating Presidente that he is appalled doon sa mga patayan na nangyayari sa Negros Oriental," Roque said.

(The President is appalled over the killings in Negros Oriental.)

"Ang sinabi po ng Presidente is he will be completely neutral pero gagampanan ng estado ang kaniyang obligasyon na imbestigahan, litisin at parusahan ang mga tao na pumapatay sa Negros Oriental," Roque added.

(The President is not taking sides but rest assured the government will fulfill its obligation to probe, try, and punish those who kill people there.)

Roque, however, did not specify which killings the President was referring to and tagged the minutes of the Regional Peace Council as confidential.

Likewise, Roque said that the President tasked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to resolve conflicting land claims which is one of the issues involved in the killings.

"The President said everything else being equal, resolve these disputes in favor of the poor," Roque said.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), for its part, was tasked to speed up the distribution of land to farmer-beneficiaries in Negros Oriental to prevent armed struggle. — DVM, GMA News