Casiño seeks probe of power firm Protest leaders owe PAMES huge amount

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija - Rep. Teddy Casiño pressed for a full dress investigation on the condition of the Pantabangan  Municipal Electric System  (PAMES) even as power has not been restored in the municipality as of press time.

But Casiño, who chairs the House committee on energy said he motored to the town to personally hear the sentiments of townsfolk  regarding the issue that the local government is facing with the power producer First Gen.

“Alam naman natin nagkaroon ng mukhang mismangement sa power distribution company,” he said. 

“Gayunpaman ang importante para sa atin ngayon, maibalik kaagad yung kuryente.,”

He said the provincial government and the National Electrification Administration can come up with a measure to immediately reconnect the electricity for the benefit of the residents while an audit of PAMES transactions is being conducted.

He also said that the PAMES franchise is already up for renewal and this could be the best time for a probe. 

He said he will make sure the franchise would not be renewed unless its finances are properly audited and accountable people are made to pay.

“Managot ang dapat managot,” he said.

Tension rose when Vice Mayor Romeo Borja, Jr., decided to face the crowd, which police estimated at about 120 people, and started enumerating the names of those people and entities who owed PAMES, including the leaders who spoke prior to his attendance.

He said naming them gave him a heavy heart but had to do it to prove that it was his father’s fight for his constituents that resulted to the power cut-off. 

He first mentioned villages such as Malbang whose head, Danilo Padilla, also belonged to the picket speakers. 

Malbang, he said, had P1.4 million debt. Villarica, which host the power plant, owed P2.3 million.

While doing it, however, someone from the crowd shouted “bulaan” apparently referring to the vice mayor.

Among those he named who supposedly failed to settle bills with PAMES  were the protest group La Solidad leader Bienvenido Reyes who allegedly has 10 months unpaid bills amounting to about P25,000; a resort owned by another protest leader Dr. Bernardo dela Merced with some P268,000 debts for 18 months; Padilla has 31 months, P41,000; former Mayor Ruben Huerta, five months, P11,000; Coun. Teodora Agustin, 47 months, P119,000, among others.

The vice mayor admitted he himself has an outstanding bill for eight months. 

In reaction, Reyes said he will castigate his wife as soon as he went home for no -paying the bills.

But Borja said they did not blame the people for failing  to pay their bills and instead run after FGHPC with allegedly undervalued equipment declaration.

“What we are saying is that it’s the billionaire company that should pay properly,” he said, adding that FGHPC enjoys a five-month tax moratorium that would amount to roughly P100 million.

Search is on for GMA challenger

LUBAO, Pampanga, August 5, 2012-Confirmation that former President, now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would seek reelection next year in this province’s second district has fueled anew a search for her opponent.

Architect Adonis Simpao, who was the official candidate of the Liberal Party (LP) against Arroyo in the 2010 congressional race in the district, said he would not run again, but stressed he would help search for a worthy opponent to Arroyo.

Kapampangan journalist Randy David, who initially announced he would challenge Arroyo in the 2010 polls but backed out later, said in a text message to Punto that “I have no plan to run in Pampanga in the next elections or to embark on a political career. Politics is not my vocation.”

David, a native of Barangay Betis in Guagua in the second district, explained that “I thought of opposing GMA (Arroyo’s initials) in order to send her a strong message: that it was not right or fair for a sitting president to seek a lower office at the end of her term so she could continue political power.”

But even now that Arroyo is no longer president, David indicated she should already “step aside.”

“Pampanga deserves and needs the infusion of new and young blood. Mrs. Arroyo should step aside now, graciously retire and let the younger generation have a chance at public service,” he said.

Former governor Eddie Panlilio, whose request to be reinstated as a full time priest has remained pending after his suspension when he run and become Pampanga governor in the 2007 elections, could not be reached, but his brother Gerry said he was not anymore interested in running for political office. 

Panlilio was named LP chairman in Pampanga when he ran but lost in the 2010 gubernatorial race against Gov. Lilia Pineda.

Despite his shying away from politics, Simpao said he would remain active in “civil society” concerns of the group Kapampangan Manalakaran, Inc. (KMI) which he helped found with Panlilio.

KMI, which advocates good governance and responsible citizenship in Pampanga, backed charges against Arroyo who recently posted a P1-million bail on charges of electrical sabotage before a court in Pasig City.

“We are still looking for somebody who can challenge GMA. We are not short of qualified Kapampangans, although as of the moment, there is no one person we can yet name,” Simpao said.

In the 2010 elections when she was still president while campaigning for the congressional post, Arroyo was accused of using the resources of her administration to woo voters in the second district.

Political observers in her district noted that while she no longer has access to the same powers in 2010, Arroyo still has enough resources to win the support of her constituents in the 2013 polls.

They noted that Arroyo is the biggest recipient of pork barrel in Congress, with a P2.2-billion lump sum pork barrel from the Department of Public Works and Highways budget, on top of her P70-million PDAF pork, the P50-million extra infrastructure pork, another P28 million on top of that, and the P25-million windfall from the Road User’s Tax.

This was uncovered last year when Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello revealed that Arroyo had used her influence when she was president to make sure that her district would get a lot of projects funded by “multilateral lending agencies” from Japan and South Korea.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson later said that the huge funds secured by Arroyo were committed by foreign aid agencies like the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Korea Development and Cooperation Fund, and that the government could violate these commitments. (Ding Cervantes)

Bishops to ‘influence’ Catholic voters to elect only pro-life solons in 2013

MANILA, August 5, 2012—Catholic voters may not be dictated on who to vote but the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will be more aggressive in “influencing” them to vote only for pro-life candidates in the midterm elections next year.

Aside from issuing a catechesis on elections to serve as a checklist for voters in assessing the moral ascendancy of candidates to handle government posts, the members of the CBCP will issue separate pastoral letters endorsing pro-life candidates who runs for public office, most especially those seeking Congressional seats.

CBCP secretary general Msgr. Joselito Asis said the public turnout during yesterday’s prayer power rally against the Reproductive Health Bill has highlighted the influence of the Church in the public’s conviction against the controversial RH Bill.

Asis admitted that in the past, the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life only issue guidelines on who to vote for.

“But now, we will already identify the pro-life candidates and convince voters against electing the anti-life ones,” he said.

“For the bishops’ part, they can separately issue pastoral letters, reiterating the Church’s call not to vote supporters of RH bill, especially in Congress,” he added.

The Catholic faithful may not vote as a bloc unlike other Christian churches but Asis said there is no need to have a solid Catholic vote.

“What’s important is that Church has influence over its faithful. Whether or not the voters heed the Church’s advice, its up to them. All we’re asking is for them to stand firm in their pro-life convictions in choosing who to vote in the elections,” he said.

The CBCP official particularly urged the Catholic youth to carefully scrutinize candidates for public office, especially after a pro-RH bill and anti-God person was elected as representative of the youth in Congress.

“Considering that the youth constitutes the majority of the voting population, we appeal to them to listen to us their elders because in order to make a right decision on who to vote, they should take it from the elders’ wisdom and maturity,” he added.

Meanwhile, youth leaders are also planning on campaigning for extensive voters education to help young voters cast their vote on pro-life and worthy candidates.

Jectoffer So of the Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth said they will gather the profiles of congressional and senatorial candidates and discuss the position of each candidate for every issue that affects the youth and their morality.

“We will conduct voters’ education of our own in our respective organizations. We will not dictate who they are going to vote for in the coming elections but we will educate them of the consequences if they elect candidates who do not respect life,” he said.

For his part, Gailbert Bosea of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting urged first time voters to register ahead of the deadline and not waste their right to vote.

“Let us scrutinize the politicians and be involved in the election. Let’s register and vote since we, the youth, are going to inherit the fruit of the problems from the seed we sow when we vote for unworthy candidates,” he said.

Meanwhile, Guillermo Geronimo of the Focolare Movement said the candidates’ respect for life and dignity of the human person will be his utmost consideration for voting.

“Development starts with the human person and at home. Whoever gives importance to life and the family is worthy to vote for,” Geronimo added. (YouthPinoy)

Phl Philharmonic Orchestra to hold concert in San Fernando

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Aug 5, 2012-The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) will hold a concert in the City of San Fernando on August 14. 

The concert is in line with the city’s twin celebration, the 258th founding anniversary of San Fernando and the 108th anniversary of the transfer of the provincial capital from Bacolor to San Fernando this August. 

“One of the proposed activities for the twin celebration is this concert,” said Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, who is also president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP). 

He said, “Preserving the heritage and culture of the people of San Fernando is one of the priority projects of the city government. The City Tourism Division undertakes several efforts to sustain the city’s Heritage Preservation Program. One of its projects is this celebration.” 

The concert will be held at the Mini Convention, Heroes Hall in San Fernando City on August 14 at 2 p.m. 

Other activities lined up for the twin celebration include Heritage Photo Contest 2012 and “War of Our Fathers” exhibit, launch of the E-Heritage tours, search for the “Talentadong Kutsero” 2012 and dress-up your “Kalesa” Contest 2012, which is considered first Kalesa Festival of the City. 

The PPO was established on May 15, 1973 as the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Philharmonic Orchestra and was initially intended to accompany performing artists at the CCP Theater. 

The group has already performed with many of the world’s renowned conductors that include Mendi Rodan, Piero Gamba, Enrique Batis, Sebastian Bereau and Nicholas Koch and with the best foreign and Filipino artists such as Van Cliburn, Renata Tebaldi, Judith Engel, Anthony Camden, David Benoit, Cecile Licad, Raul Sunico and Lea Salonga. (Joelyn G. Baluyut)

Tarlac Governor calls all-out investigation on the death of a law student

TARLAC CITY, Tarlac, August 5, 2012–Tarlac Governor Victor Yap had called out for an all-out investigation in the death of Marc Andrei Marcos.

 

Yap instructed the authorities to “dig deeper” into the case on the 21-year old victim, which is a native from Ramos town who is taking up law at the San Beda College and is currently on his first year.

 

Police said that the victim was succumbed to injuries sustained from fraternity hazing.

 

The young Governor had also called for the abolition of hazing.

 

“I condemn this senseless hazing, this should stop. And I sympathize with the family of Andrei Marcos and my condolences to them,” the Governor said.

 

Moreover, he said that “violence must not be tolerated by any school and the Congress should put more teeth on the anti-hazing law to finally put an end to these senseless killings.”

Marcos’ family members believed that he was undergoing initiation rites by the Lex Leonum Fraterintas which is considered as an unrecognized fraternity composed of San Beda law students.

Meanwhile, Kabataan Partylist Central Luzon spokesperson Guiller Martin Cadano said “our partylist respects the traditional initiation rites of fraternities and sororities in the Philippines. These rites are being used by frats and soros to gauge who want to join these organizations”

“Moreover, rites are used by progressive frats and soros in times of Martial Law to know who are the government’s intelligence persons joining these orgs. But, as the time goes by, we forget what is the essence of these rites. Our organization condemns the inhumane acts which lead to paralyses, disabilities, and even death. Stop the inhumane acts in initiation rites!,” Cadano added.

Marcos is the latest fatality in hazing this year. The first one was Marvin Reglos, 25, also a law student from San Beda.

The latter was allegedly killed from a violent hazing ritual of the Lambda Rho Beta fraternity in February. (Joelyn G. Baluyut)

KIKO PUSHES FOR INSURANCE FOR FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK

MANILA, August 5, 2012-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, says that it would be in the best interest of the government to focus on farmers and fisherfolk as the country pushes for food security. Pangilinan made the statement as the national budget nears deliberation.

"There is an urgent need to include in the national budget crop insurance for our farmers, and also insurance for our fisherfolk. Every year we are ravaged by typhoons and the subsequent floods and destruction that go with them. It is high time we come up with a comprehensive insurance coverage plan for our crops, and even for our farmers and fishermen themselves. The government will save more in the long run as it secures the livelihood of our agricultural communities."

Pangilinan adds that it would be nearly impossible to achieve food security and food self-sufficiency if the country's farmers and fisherfolk remain impoverished.

"We should work hard toward giving our farmers and fisherfolk the same prosperity that farmers in countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and China are now starting to enjoy," he points out. 

"We need to break away from the status quo as it has taken us nowhere in the past several decades. We must come up with radical solutions to address and eventually resolve those issues that ail the country's agriculture and fisheries sector," Pangilinan emphasizes.

Angara ‘sure to run’ for Aurora gov in 2013– sources

BALER, Aurora, August 4, 2012–Sen. Edgardo Angara – the longest-serving senator in the post-Edsa Senate – is 100% sure of running for governor in next year’s mid-term elections.

Highly reliable sources, who sought anonymity, told newsmen that Angara has finalized his decision to seek the governorship and has in fact informed his close friends and allies of his bid, including deposed former President Joseph Estrada.

Angara served as agriculture secretary during Estrada’s abbreviated presidency.

“He is running for governor 100%, that’s for sure,” the source said.

Angara has not made public his gubernatorial bid although speculations are rife he would make the declaration shortly before the deadline for the filing of the certificate of candidacy for local and national officials in October.

His potential rival, Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras, has declared he is running for governor in July last year.

No one among the Angaras have so far confirmed the plan. But the senator’s younger sister, outgoing three-term Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo acknowledged that there is a strong clamor among the Angaras’ political leaders for the senator to run for governor.

She said the possibility of the senator running for governor is to enable the provincial government to finish all the projects which she started when she first ruled the Capitol following a landslide victory in 2004.

“Based on what they (leaders) have seen, it will take somebody like Senator Angara to expedite all the development projects in Aurora,” she said.

“If you ask me, I prefer somebody like him taking into account the interest of the province and the people of Aurora,” she added.

The possibility of the senator running for the Capitol surfaced sometime last year after his brother, outgoing three-term Baler Mayor Arthur Angara who declared he is interested in seeking the Capitol, reportedly would have his hands full against Noveras.

A number of times, the senator denied he would seek the governorship, pointing out that he was a national figure and won’t settle for a local position. He said if Arthur does not stand a chance, then the Angaras would shop for somebody else.

In spite of his denial, indications point to the senator running for  governorship, proof of which is his visibility in the province.

Since last year, he has been inspecting his pet projects and meeting ward leaders of the Angaras, particularly local chief executives.

A Capitol official said the senator can run for governor even without physically campaigning. “He is very well-known, he has extensive connections and he has the solid support of leaders who can do the campaigning for him while he is attending to the senatorial campaign of his son Sonny,” the official said, referring to the senator’s son who is eyeing to succeed him. (Manny Galvez)  

P1.3-M worth of shelter materials distributed to Sendong survivors

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, April 3, 2012—The International Organization for Migration (IOM) had distributed P1.3 million worth of badly-needed Shelter Repair Kits (SRKs) to 205 families whose homes have been damaged by the deluge brought by Typhoon Sendong (TS Washi) nine days before Christmas day last year.

Each beneficiary-family received P7,000 worth of SRK from the IOM.

The distribution of the SKR took place at the Macanhan covered court.

“Kini nga mga materyales nga gihatag sa IOM igo-igo lang gyud nga makapatindog mi pagbalik sa among gamay’ng payag (These materials given by IOM is just enough for us to construct a small house),” said Danilo Oponi.

Oponi said he is very thankful to IOM for its help and that he is very happy that despite the tragedy, humanitarian and aid agencies such as IOM are there to help him and others like him get back on their feet.

IOM, which was established in 1951, is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. It is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.

As the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) “Cluster” lead agency for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) in Natural Disasters, IOM immediately deployed teams to assess needs in evacuation centres, displacement sites and other affected communities days after TS Washi devastated Cagayan de Oro City and neighboring Iligan City.

IOM also participated in a joint assessment mission with government line agencies led by the Office of Civil Defense and the Mindanao Humanitarian Team (MHT).

At present, IOM has distributed to the Sendong Survivors a total of P11 million worth of SRKs aside from other relief, emergency and humanitarian assistance since last year.

“Pasalamat ko’g dako sa IOM kay nakatabang gyud sila sa mga pobre (I am very thankful to IOM for their help),” said Wilma Sabuero, whose house was partially damaged when TS Washi struck on the night of December 16, 2011.

Myrna Labajo, like other beneficiaries, received 10 plywoods, 5 pieces of 2X4wood, 15 pieces of 2X2, 3 kilos of nails, a hammer, saw and roof sealant.

“Nalipay kaayo ko kay maayo na gyud tawn among gubaong balay (I am very happy for at last we can finally repair our damaged house),” she said.

Labajo said she has an edge over her neighbors because her husband is a construction worker and is also doing carpentry works so it will be easy for them to repair their partially damaged house with IOM’s SRK.

IOM, which serves as the co-lead with the DSWD in the IASC Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster, is currently improving conditions in evacuation centres and transition sites by providing privacy partitions, bed kits, latrines, bathing cubicles, multi-purpose halls and cooking counters, aside from distributing SRKs and essential non-food relief items to displaced families to allow them to leave evacuation centres and return to their homes.

Recently, IOM completed the construction of 75 bunkhouses in the Lumbia relocation site. The project provided short-term employment to almost 200 people from evacuation centres and host communities through a cash-for-work program. (Bong D. Fabe)

Philrice to farmers: brace for rat attacks in farms

MUNOZ CITY, Nueva Ecija, March 31, 2012-Mr. Leonardo Marquez, Chief of the Philippine Rice Research Institute crop protection division has warned local farmers against massive rat infestation in their farms where crops are nearing the booting stage with the increase in the rodents’ population this month.

“The farmers should inspect potential breeding grounds of rats, many of which have gotten pregnant this month,” he said.

Marquez sounded the alarm after PhilRice laborers caught 80 rats in a 90-hectare farmland during a two-hour operation at its central experiment station here.

Marquez said the rat population starts to swell at booting stage when rats will have something to feed on, which favors breeding. He said with enough food and water, a pair of rats and their offspring can produce up to 500 puppies.

Armed with sacks, fish nets, bamboo rods and pails, PhilRice laborers track rats on creeks, irrigation canals and ducts.

Marquez said catching rats requires proper timing and must be employed when their population is still low or before rice enters the reproductive stage to reduce potential damage.

He said rats usually hide and reproduce in burrows, then go out from their holes when rice plants are in reproductive stage.

Marquez said burrows may be filled up with mixed soil and water which can cause the burrows to close when mud dries up.

To reduce rat population, Marquez recommended a year-round community-wide rat control, field sanitation, and proper water management. He stressed that community-wide rat control conducted twice a month is vital because rats are very mobile and elusive to catch.

Presently, PhilRice is spearheading rat control activities at least four times a month.

He also said that fields must be free from weeds and dikes and must be kept narrow while depths of irrigation water must be maintained at between three to five centimeters to discourage rats from cutting and chewing the tillers. (Jason de Asis)

Expect more violence in the hacienda—solon

ANTIPOLO City, March 30, 2012—More violence are expected to happen in Hacienda Luisita if the family of President Benigno Cojuangco Aquino III will still refuse to distribute the 6,435-hectare sugar estate to the farmworker-beneficiaries (FWBs).

This was the statement of the partylist Anakpawis, after seven farmworkers, including a minor, were arrested as the police and the military had served the order to vacate, issued by the Tarlac Municipal Court Branch 1, last March 26. They were just released yesterday, and warmly welcomed by their colleagues in the Hacienda.

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano said, the attempt of the farmworkers to dismantle the perimeter fences on the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. land in Brgy. Balete, in Luisita, must not be viewed as a criminal act, rather an assertion of the FWBs of their rights to the land, pursuant to the November 22, 2011 decision of the Supreme Court.

“The continuing violence and disorder at Luisita emanates from the Cojuangco-Aquinos’ blatant refusal to respect and implement the November 22, 2011 Supreme Court (SC) decision that ordered the distribution of 6,435 has. of Luisita lands to farmers-beneficiaries. The President’s family is maintaining its control and stronghold over the disputed sugar lands through illegal and immoral means. At the same time, the President is playing dumb and nonchalant on the current situation at Hacienda Luisita,” said the veteran peasant leader, turned lawmaker.

“Restlessness will continue in Hacienda Luisita as long as the Cojuangco-Aquinos, aided by the government, refuse to abide the Supreme Court decision and recognize and respect the rightful ownership of farmers over the Luisita lands,” he added.

Mariano also said that the RCBC continued to harass the farmers-on-picket near the land, using their private guards, as well as the police and the military.

Meanwhile, Mariano challenges the SC to decide, with finality, on the issue of the Luisita as they are expected to convene in Baguio on April 12. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Drilon bill to commercialize public health services

MANILA, March 29, 2012—A more commercialized health care is what Senator Franklin M. Drilon wants to happen in filing a bill which aims to classify government health institutions as government-owned and controlled corporations.

While it is bad for the poor people’s pockets, it is too bad, literally, for their health as it will allow giant fastfood chains, mostly serving greasy and rich-in-fat-and-sugar foods, to open their stores inside the hospital premises.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) assailed this move of the lawmaker from Iloilo, saying that it would make the health services in the country pricey, disallowing poor people—like ordinary fisherfolks—to access.

The Drilon bill, also known as the “National Government Hospital Corporate Restructuring Act of 2012”, will liberally allow the government-run hospitals to engage in business and generate more income for the facility, that will eventually improve its facilities and the services it renders to the people. However, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap, expressed disbelief in this motive.

“Senator Drilon is fooling the people. His bill is all about privatization of public hospitals and public health so the national government will stop extending budget to public hospitals and let hospital administrators look for money outside government sources. If this highly condemnable bill is passed, Malacañang and Congress will further cut the budget for people’s health which is a complete state abandonment of public health,” Hicap said.

Hicap, also an Anakpawis Partylist Council member said, Drilon should think of better ways of improving the healthcare services in the country, and not to make government hospitals and clinics “at the mercy of conglomerates or corporations”.

Meanwhile, Eleanor A. Jara, M.D., executive of non-government health organization, Council for Health and Development (CHD), Inc. said, it seems that the Benigno C. Aquino III government is “doing the old ways” in terms of corporatization of the health services in the country.

“Instead of public service, the government's priorities are directed towards the interest of foreign investors as manifested by budget cuts on public services and the government's sheer effort to accentuate privatization. Privatization is encouraged by the Aquino government, through the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) program. This is said to decrease the government's budget spending while increasing the income with the help of the investments from private corporations,” the lady doctor said.

In the 2011 National Budget, observes Jara, the government had allocated a measly P3.2 billion for facility enhancement of hospitals under the Department of Health (DOH), while P6.1 billion for medical tourism project of the government.

“In privatization, budget cuts on government owned hospitals will be implemented. This, along with shares and investments of private corporations that desire profit will result to the need of hospitals to obtain more income. In return, health care services become more expensive. The ones who will benefit the most would be the foreign and domestic investors and corporations. The health services for the masses which should be free in public health facilities would be compromised. Even if the government is successful in raising its funds with PPP, it will be at the expense of the poor,” she said. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

5 HLI workers arrested; tension brews in the hacienda anew

ANTIPOLO City, March 28, 2012—Five farmworkers from the Hacienda Luisita were arrested, according to Hacienda Luisita Peasants’ Supporters Network (HL PeasNet) secretariat.

The arrests are in connection with the case of grave coercion and illegal occupation of property filed before the Tarlac Municipal Trial Court Branch 1 by the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) last February. The warrants of arrest were released by Judge Marvin Mangino, against 23 farmworkers of the hacienda, last February 23.

Some of the farmworker-leaders, including Lito Bais, chairperson of the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), who is among the farmworkers to be arrested, are in Manila for a protest and dialogue on the land distribution case filed before the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL) assailed the “divide and rule” tactic being employed allegedly by the RCBC and the HLI [Hacienda Luisita, Inc] management, in terms of regaining control of the disputed hacienda.

“The RCBC and Cojuangco-Aquinos’ efforts to evict the farmworkers [from the hacienda] started last year and continues up to now. They attempted to displace farmworkers and demolish their camp-out located in Brgy. Balete last October 28, 2011 and February 20, 2012 deploying some 100 security guards, elements of the Tarlac provincial police and the Philippine Army, who served as escorts while the RCBC personnel begin to fence the said land,” AMGL chairperson Joseph Canlas said.

Felix Nacpil Jr., chairperson of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) said in a statement that they believe the Cojuangco-Aquinos are the ones behind the “railroading” of the release of the warrants of arrest to weaken the hearts of the 6,000 workers fighting for their rights to the land.

What is saddening, said Nacpil, is that they have paid some of the residents of the hacienda, some P300 daily, in order to gain support and turn against their fellow beneficiaries.

“The Cojuangco-Aquino clan wants us, farmworkers, to fight each other. The Cojuangco-Aquinos have mastered this maneuver and want us to surrender our rights to the 184 hectares in Brgy. Balete, as well as the aggregate 4,915 hectares agricultural lands in the hacienda,” Nacpil said.

However, the problem of arrests are not only for the Hacienda 22, but for another 15 members and leaders of Ambala who are now facing charges of malicious mischief, grave coercion and robbery, in connection with the February 20 incident.

Nevertheless, the HL farmworkers’ fight for land and rights had garnered much support, here and abroad.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice & Peace (CBCP-Nassa) had expressed its support with the HL workers, urging the Supreme Court to finalize its decision, to have the land properly distributed to its rightful owners—the farmworker-beneficiaries.

Even the Asian Peasants’ Coalition (APC) had condemned the HLI and the RCBC of filing “trump up” cases against the farmworkers who had started the bungkalan or collective farming on the 184-hectare RCBC land in Brgy. Balete, last July 11.

“We denounce these criminal cases being pushed by RCBC against farmworkers and their supporters. We strongly believe that it was pure intimidation to undermine the struggling farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita,” the APC statement said, as published on their website.

The APC also urged the DAR to “act in favor of the Hacienda farmers on their January 5, 2012 petition for the revocation of the land conversion order on the 184-hectare land which was re-classified by the department as industrial in favor of RCBC,” since the farmworker-beneficiaries, technically, are the legitimate owners of the Hacienda Luisita.

The APC also called for the dismissal of grave coercion and illegal occupation of property against 23 farmworkers and the robbery case against 20 other farmworkers who participated last Feb. 20, 2012.

“The farmers merely confiscated galvanized iron fences being put up by a construction team escorted by armed security guards, police and military in the land being claimed by RCBC,” the APC statement read.

“We call on more than 15 million APC members to send their solidarity messages or conduct solidarity actions to express their support to the struggling Hacienda Luisita farmworkers,” it added. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Luisita farmworkers decry series of harassments

ANTIPOLO City, March 26, 2012—Farmworkers of the controversial Hacienda Luisita decried the alleged harassments of private security hired by the Yuchengco Group’s Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation.

In a statement, the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura revealed that some “hired goons” of the RCBC had attempted to disperse the farmworkers-on-camping, near the 184-hectare land in Brgy. Balete, which the farmworker-beneficiaries began to till since July last year for food and livelihood. The said parcel of land, also inside the Hacienda Luisita territory, was purchased by RCBC 16 years ago from the HLI [Hacienda Luisita, Inc.] management.

“This is a blatant disregard of the rights of the farmworkers, [who] in reality are the true owners of the Hacienda Luisita,” said Rodel Mesa, UMA’s secretary-general.

Earlier, the Tarlac Municipal Trial Court Branch 1 had issued warrants of arrest against 23 farmworkers of the hacienda, including Lito Bais, who serves as chairperson of UMA.

The 23 are facing charges of grave coercion and illegal occupation of private property, in connection with the tilling of the 184-hectare land of the RCBC, and the clash that happened between some 100 security personnel and the farmworkers, when the latter had attempted to dismantle the security post last February 20.

Mesa forewarns the RCBC management that it would be held accountable if any of the protesters would be harmed.

The farmworker-beneficiaries had already filed a revocation of the land conversion order by the Department of Agrarian Reform some years ago. In addition to this, they had also filed an early petition to the Supreme Court, asking the highest tribunal to cancel all conversion orders issued in favor of the HLI. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]