Walking from Bukidnon to Malacañang; the Sumilao Farmers' Protest

[baron]

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At the very least, the farmers should be happy for their cause were given due notice by the government. Now, they have more legal basis to claim the property under CARP. It's difficult to sustain this since the administration can only enforce existing laws, which for me has many loopholes.

Nonetheless, the fact that the Office of the President is on the side of the farmers with the recent executive order, I guess the farmers are in a more stable state than without any decision to hold on to. The lawyer of the farmers should be doing his job of explaining to the farmers fully the extent of their claim instead of going to the media. They should know that San Miguel is still a major concern, especially if and when the case will be brought before the courts.

[giddyboy]

giddyboy, I think let us look closely what was meant of the Order of your beloved President. Here are the views.

"For example, chief president legal counsel Sergio Apostol, who was among those who drafted the order, said before its issuance Tuesday that the property would have to undergo a “process� before actually being distributed to the farmers.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, on the other hand, claimed the order meant San Miguel Foods had lost ownership of the property.

But Manuel had his own take on the order, saying it now made San Miguel Foods the landowner and that government would have to pay the firm the full value of the land before the farmers could gain ownership of it.

The lawyer said they are considering seeking a written commitment from the DAR and the Office of the President on the next steps they will be taking to meet the farmers’ demands."

"Ang pag-aalinlangan namin kasi ay dahil ilang beses na kaming nabiktima [Our apprehension is because we have been victimized many times."

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE FOOLED MANY TIMES ALREADY BY THE GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY THAT OF ANOTHER CORRUPT ADMIN FIDEL RAMOS.

not my beloved president dear sir..., she's ur bedeviled president perhaps. hehe
anyways, i saw on tv tonight that the order will take around 15 days to process. Most Sumilao farmers have decided to stay until it's done & will have to spend xmas, and perhaps new year's eve in manila...i can't say anything further till it's a done deal or a no deal...hehe

[edgar88]

its not easy to remove san miguel corp, let say if sumilao farmers successfully take the land, ila lng ng tawn tamnan ug mais, sila ray mo benefit compared kung smb daghan trabaho, thousands would benefit, and if let say the smb would lease the land to sumilao farmers, im sure they would move out n venture in other place

il suggest regarding the sumilao farmers, SMC would hire them, at least 3 ang daog, smc, sumilao farmers n the workers of smb

i think this the reason why giant sugarcane company in luzon covering i think 4 towns,murag sta. lusia owned my former president corazon aquino, dli basta2x makuha sa farmers, theyl better cooperate

[godsaint]

San Miguel offers land, jobs to Sumilao farmers

San Miguel Corp. has offered jobs and land to Higaonon farmers in a bid to settle the ownership issue over the controversial 144-hectare land in Sumilao, Bukidnon, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman said Thursday.

Pangandaman said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang made the offer to Bishop Broderick Pabillo, head of the Catholic Church’s task force on Sumilao, during a phone conversation Thursday morning.

He said Ang was offering to give farmers another piece of land in Sumilao and jobs in the hog farm being developed by SMC’s sister company, San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI), in the disputed property.

The secretary said the conversation took place during a breakfast meeting between President Arroyo and Pabillo in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

The farmers reportedly declined the offer, saying that they would continue their fight to regain the ownership of the 144-hectare land.

Pabillo, chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, and Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma met with Mrs. Arroyo at Konesko Hotel.

During the meeting, Pabillo said he and Ledesma urged the President to issue a cease-and-desist order to stop the ongoing developments in the disputed property despite Mrs. Arroyo’s order in December 2007 to return the 144-hectare land to the Sumilao farmers.

Pabillo said he was disappointed when the President purportedly told him that she would still consult with Sergio Apostol, chief presidential legal counsel, regarding the request.

"I am disappointed that the Office of the President still continues to drag its feet in issuing a cease-and-desist order. I am deeply disappointed at the unnecessary delay in even the simple delivery of the SMFI copy of the December 28 revocation order despite the reassurances of Secretary [Ignacio] Bunye� said Pabillo.

Last year, Malacañang revoked the 1996 executive order issued by former executive secretary Ruben Torres converting the agricultural land into an agro-industrial area. The move consequently returned ownership of the land to Higaonon and Lumad farmers.

The disputed land was owned by the Quisumbing family until it was sold to SMFI. The company was building a hog farm in the disputed land, prompting the farmers to march to Manila to seek the government’s help.

Lawyer Arlene Bag-ao, legal counsel of the Sumilao farmers, said the request for the issuance of a cease-and-desist order was made even prior to the issuance of the December 18 order.

“After the receipt of the December 18 order, the Office of the President made us understand that they were studying the issuance of the [cease-and-desist order], how come until now that is still what they are saying? How long does the Office of the President need to study the issuance of a [cease-and-desist order],� Bag-ao said.

Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said that this development only fuels the doubts about the sincerity of Malacañang in returning the 144-hectare Sumilao land to the farmers.

[baby_grace]

The Sumilao farmers have got a positive result already from their long journey going to Malacanang. But they must know that things do not come easily. There are still processes and procedures to follow especially that there will be a possible transfer of ownership. I am sure the lawyers of the farmers know that. It's up to these legal professionals to explain to their clients the process and not just encourage their farmer clients to go on with the fight. Their are legal aspects that has to be settled. Remember the land was just placed under the CARP now.

[godsaint]

The land has long been under CARP.Cory administration pa.Now here comes the same situation.Just like the beginning they will be offerd jobs and lands.This can only be a victory on the part of the farmers if land titles are on their hands.

[etienne]

On Target
The Sumilao controversy, devoid of emotion

By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:38:00 01/05/2008


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Let’s go back once again to the Sumilao controversy, but devoid of emotion. If the controversial land in that Bukidnon town is turned over to the protesting farmers, only 50 or so of them will benefit as against the town and even the country.

Consider these:

SMFI will employ 2,400 workers in its agro-industrial project on the land.

The piggery farm, feedmill and post-harvest facility will result in better corn prices for farmers who have been exploited by middlemen during the harvest season.

The firm, a San Miguel subsidiary, will give farmers access to financing facilities, modern farm technology and planting materials from the company.

The tax revenues of the Bukidnon provincial government will increase and thus improve services to the residents.

Now, will the farmers who want the controversial land be able to give these benefits to other farmers and the province?

[mOnOzErO]

That's a very good insight. People must look for a long term solution.

[GELAI_MAGZ]

murag dugay2x pa jud ni sila maabot sa malacanang! hehe...
daghan pang dagat ilang lakwon...

[giddyboy]

any updates aning kasoha?