At least seven Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) were injured when seven security guards allegedly opened fire at a group of farmers harvesting sugarcane in Hacienda Escolastica, Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City, on September 30, 2025.
According to reports, more than 50 members of the Escolapa Farmers Association were harvesting sugarcane when the security guards arrived and attempted to stop them from continuing their work.
Witnesses said the guards initially fired warning shots before shooting directly at the farmers, injuring at least seven, who were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Beberly De Juan, a representative of the farmer’s group, said the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) awarded Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to over 70 members of their association in 2003.
She added that although a second CLOA was later issued for the same land, their group holds the original title and has complete legal documentation.
Cadiz City Police Chief John Joel Batusbatusan confirmed that authorities have already filed charges against the security guards involved.
Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) Director Arnold Thomas C. Ibay condemned the incident and vowed that all those responsible would face legal consequences.
Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) conducted paraffin tests on the guards, while authorities turned over their firearms to the Negros Occidental Provincial Forensic Unit for ballistic and gunpowder residue testing.
Police have also submitted a formal request to RCSU 6 to verify the security agency’s licenses and investigate the legality of its operations.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.