Press Release
December 11, 2008
Contact: Elaine Teope, PAKISAMA (0919)6190466/Maricel Tolentino, ANGOC 4337653-54 or (0917)8191089/Rene Peñas, PAKISAMA-Sumilao farmer (0906)8315336
As the seven-day promise of Secretary Sylvestre Bello to act on their case ended yesterday, the protesting Banasi farmers marched to Malacanang anew at 8:30 AM. They would like to meet with Secretary Bello and demand an accounting of his promise. They reached the Malacanang gates but were effectively blocked by a plank of policemen. The farmers retreated a bit and now are having a silent sit down protest under the Nagtahan Bridge, hoping PGMA will notice them when she passes by.
One of the farmers, Crisanta Baleder, 63, collapsed during the incident and was rushed to D.Ocampo Hospital.
The farmers learned last night that their case was remanded yesterday by Malacanang to the Department of Agrarian Reform.
The farmers were furious. ” Nais naming marinig mismo kay Secretary Bello ang naging desisyon nila sa kaso namin. Pero nais naming sabihin sa kanila na hindi kami bolang pwedeng ipasa-ipasa. Hindi kami naglakad ng 444 kilometro upang ibalewala lamang at lalong papaghintayin,” said Jess Bergantin.
The farmers suspect of a foul and unethical manners happening in Malacanang.. “Malamang tinatakpan nila ang kanilang kasamahang si Undersecretary Manuel Gaite, ang pinuno ng legal department na nagdesisyon na ipakansela ang aming CLOA. Kamag-anak niya ang asawa ng mga Fajardo, ang dating may ari ng 123 ektaryang ipinamahagi sa amin noong 1997 ng DAR sa pamamagitan ng CARP.”
Manuel Gaite was once implicated in the Lozada case, as the one who gave P500,000 to Jun Lozada to go to Hongkong.
They vowed to stay and sit down in silent protest 24/7 where they are and until they get a favorable and just decision from the President. ” Hindi po kami aalis at uuwi sa Bicol, abutin man kami rito ng Pasko o bagong taon o isa pang taon habang di nadedesisyunan nang makatarungan ang aming kaso,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Banasi farmers are steadily generating support from various sectors. They have been acknowledged by Cardinal Rosales who said mass for them and the Calatagan farmers last December 5 in Ateneo de Manila University. They left a good impression as a highly disciplined and organized group of farmers fighting for their right as they joined the December 3 and yesterday’s march to Congress with various sectors including students and faculty from various Catholic schools to press for the enactment of CARP extension and reform (CARPER) bill. Parishes and schools they visited over the weekend promised to assist them in their struggle, among them the Parish of Sto Nino in Tondo, Manila. Bishop Broderick Pabillo. CBCP-NASSA Chair, said a mass for and with them last Monday. A group of Adamson students have continuously visited them in their camp at Caritas in Pandacan who sheltered and feed them since they arrived Manila in December 2, 2008.
The farmers hope that their friends from fellow farmer groups, NGOs, schools and parishes and media will visit their new camp-in the street in front of Malacanang Palace.
PAKISAMA
Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka
Room 207 Partnership Center, 59 C. Salvador Street,
Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax Number +632 434 20 79
E-mail: pakisama.natl@yahoo.com
www.pakisama.org
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