PIGCAWAYAN, COTABATO — A barangay kagawad from Midpapan 1 is facing serious accusations after a resident reported him to the police for alleged harassment, physical assault, and even biting in connection with an ongoing land dispute.
The complaint was filed by Avegale Huesca of Barangay Midpapan 2, who identified Barangay Kagawad Hyde Regacho Aduana as the official who allegedly attacked and attempted to forcibly evict her family from their residence despite having no proof of ownership over the land.
According to Huesca, Aduana confronted her over the property and insisted that their family leave the area. She stressed that the land in question is classified as Alienable and Disposable or public land — giving the kagawad no authority to drive them out.
The confrontation allegedly escalated when the barangay official began harassing her and, at one point, bit her during the altercation.
Huesca’s family is set to file a formal complaint before the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today, November 20, 2025. If the allegations are proven true, Kagawad Aduana may face multiple administrative charges, including Grave Misconduct, Abuse of Authority, Oppression, Conduct Unbecoming of a Public Officer, and Gross Neglect of Duty.
These offenses carry heavy penalties such as suspension, dismissal from service, forfeiture of benefits, or even perpetual disqualification from holding any government position.
A relative of Kagawad Aduana, meanwhile, denied the accusations, claiming that Huesca’s family had blocked the kagawad several times before the incident. They also asserted that their side possesses documents to prove ownership of the disputed land.
As tensions rise, both parties are preparing to present their evidence before authorities, who are expected to investigate the matter thoroughly to determine whether the barangay official abused his authority in the alleged eviction attempt.