Statement on the dialogue between President Benigno S. Aquino III and Casiguran marchers

CASIGURAN, Aurora, December 11, 2012-APECO welcomes the opportunity for President Aquino to hold a dialogue with the Casiguran marchers. We ourselves have repeatedly tried to reach out to them, and we continue to hope that we can sit down with them in peaceful dialogue.

APECO is very thankful for President Aquino’s continued support and trust. This reflects the faith shown by the people of Casiguran in APECO.

We support the President’s proposals and vow to cooperate in the reviews he has called for. We are grateful for a fair opportunity to present our side.

APECO sees the people of Casiguran as its partner in development. It would be impossible to do any of our development projects without their support.

In fact, below are the actual statements delivered by residents and leaders from Casiguran during a press conference they held at the Senate on December 4. (Videos can also be viewed on APECO’s Web site.)

Renato Prado, Chairman of Samahang AKDA ng Aurora and father-in-law of Arman Dela Cruz:

“Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. Wala pong katotohanan ang sinabi ni Arman, Kabulaanan po yon, Wala pong inaalis ang APECO na Dumagat. Sa totoo lang po sila po yung nakatulong sa amin, binigyan po kami ng kabuhayan po, tapos yung permit ng rattan binigay po sa amin. Ang sabi po nilang pinapaalis po sila, Hindi po wag po kayong maniwala dun hindi po totoo yun, anak ko lang po yung nagsalita nun. Nagbulaan lang po iyon para, siguro dahil sa kahirapan nila wala rin syang trabaho dahil isang pastor sya. Yun lang po yung inaasikaso nya yung pagpapastor nya. Yun lang po at maraming salamat.”

Ely Dipablo, Dumagat elder and former officer in Casiguran of the Presidential Arm for National Minorities:

“Hamunin ko po, mag-sabi sila ng kahit na isang pangalan lang na inagawan ng lupa ng APECO! Hinahamon ko po sila ilabas nila kahit isa lang tao kung sino ang inagawan, yun po! Bakit kinukunsinti ng Pari ang pagiging bulaan! Sila pa ang nagsasabi na ito ang isigaw? Wala naman pong inaagawan, walang inaagawan ng lupa, ewan ko po baka isang bao na lupa baka meron, pero yung pamayanan naming sinabi ko nga wala ho! Tahimik at ayaw namin ng gulo kaya kami po ay nananawagan sa media mismo at sa ating gobyerno sa opisyales ng gobyerno.”

Brgy. Captain Matrona Corbadura, Brgy. Esteves, Casiguran:

“Ngayon po, walang inaagaw na lupa! Kung gusto mong ipagbili ang lupa, bibilihin nila sa tamang presyo. Ang sabi nga po nila ang lupa ay nasa mababang presyo, hindo po! Sapagkat kami po mismo na taga roon sa Brgy. Esteves ay nagpabili ng lupa sa APECO sapagkat ito po ay kailangan ng mamamayan na pagtatayuan po ng housing.”

APECO is for development, and the truth is, this is a development for the people of Aurora, supported by the people of Aurora. We appeal to certain groups with vested interests to stop spreading lies that will only serve to jeopardize the future of Aurora’s people. (Atty. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, President and CEO of APECO)