Trespassing charges has been filed against 14 individuals for unauthorized entry inside the premises and occupying a facility of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office Cordillera (DA-RFO-CAR) Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC), at Dontogan, Baguio City.
Illegal posession of firearms were also filed against two more personalities considered as principal authors of the said acts has been included in the unauthorized entry.
DA-RFO-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey explained the filing of the cases is a result of the unlawful actions made by the 16 security personnel of the 8 Dragons Elite Security Agency Incorporated on October 4, 2022 inside the premises of DA-CAR.
“We reiterate to the public that this legal action against the said individuals manifests the departments’ commitment to continuously protect the BABRC area,” Odsey said.
Under Presidential proclamation 603 signed by then President Manuel Luis Quezon on August 5, 1940, the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center, also known as the Baguio Dairy Farm, was placed under the possession, management and maintenance of the DA.
Then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued a Memorandum to the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on May 3,1980 directing the protection and reservation of all lands proclaimed for stock farm purposes against all forms of squatting and any speculation of whatever nature.
“BABRC is also a breeding site for animals that are supposed to supply the needs of farmer beneficiaries in the region. Unauthorized actions like these threaten the biosecurity measures currently being implemented by the department, and denies the beneficiaries of their agricultural related needs requested from the department,” Odsey added.
BABRC is committed for animal breeding, agricultural activities, research, and innovation purposes with projects including milk production and dairy products processing.
DA-RFO-CAR purposely had the area fenced with “No Trespassing Government Area” sign to warn the public against unwarranted sale and transfer of any portion of the land.
Through the years, the Department initiated civil cases through the Office of the Solicitor General to have all overlapping titles/claims over the area, nullified, revert back to the government or cancel the same in favor of the government.
In 2021, while the case is pending in a court in Baguio City, a second trespassing incident by 19 armed security guards occurred initiated by a certain security agency considered as a sister company of the first trespassing incident prompting the DA-RFO-CAR to file another case for the said incident.
A third trespassing incident by the personnel of the same agency occurred within the premises of the BABRC on April 16,2022, prompting the Department to file another case in court.
The recent illegal entry of the 16 security guards resulted to the forced opening and occupying the Old BPI Cottage of the DA-RFO-CAR.
To date, a total of five unlawful entry cases, aside from a case for violation of Presidential Decree 705 or illegal cutting of trees, and violation of PD 1051 or the illegal possession of firearms has been filed by the Department against the respondents.
President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. who has been informed of the said incident has also been briefed on the status of many government reservation sites previously proclaimed to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), which are currently managed by the Regional Field Office.** DA-CAR Press Release
