MARCH 24, 2026 — Seventeen farmers from Mariveles, Bataan have filed a land-grabbing complaint against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and others, alleging the illegal transfer of more than 400 hectares of land meant for agrarian reform beneficiaries. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now probing the case, which has stirred controversy not only for its scale but also for its alleged ties to POGO operations.

Here’s the story: farmers claim they were supposed to receive their Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) from the Department of Agrarian Reform. Instead, they discovered in 2020 that the land titles had already been transferred to First Bataan Mariveles Holdings Corp. without DAR clearance. According to the NBI, falsified documents were allegedly used to transfer more than 60 land titles.

NBI-NCR Director Melvin Matibag revealed that the case has also exposed a dispute between Roque and Ramil Madriaga, who was accused of being Vice President Sara Duterte’s former bagman — a claim Duterte herself denied. 

Matibag said, "At ito, isang significance dito, base doon sa statement kanina ni Ate, nag-away si Ramil Madriaga at si Harry Roque dahil dito sa lupa na ito. Dahil tinutulungan sila ni Ramil Madriaga na mabawi yung lupa na niland grab ng grupo ni Harry Roque."

(One significant point here, based on the statement earlier, is that Ramil Madriaga and Harry Roque fought over this land. Madriaga was helping the farmers reclaim the land allegedly grabbed by Roque’s group.)

The farmers further alleged that the company involved is linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), raising questions about how agrarian reform lands could end up tied to gambling interests.

Meanwhile, Roque — who is reportedly seeking asylum in the Netherlands — has denied the allegations, calling them baseless.

This issue digs deep into the fragility of agrarian reform, the power of political figures, and the ease with which land meant for the poor can allegedly be hijacked by corporations. It’s a reminder that land disputes are never just about soil — they’re about survival, dignity, and justice.

If proven true, this case could expose how agrarian reform continues to be undermined by political and business interests. And if false, it still shows how deeply mistrust runs between the public and those who once spoke for the highest office in the land.

Stories like these now almost seem like sagas winding on and on through generations. When will farmers stop battling for land that should have been theirs in the first place?

(Image: Harry Roque | Facebook)