TFM denounces Independence Day dispersal of farmers in DAR Region 10

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Task Force Mapalad, a federation of agrarian reform beneficiaries, denounced the dispersal on June 12 of some 20 farmers from Bukidnon who gathered in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform Region 10 office to demand the conduct of an ocular inspection at Fortich Farm in Valencia City.

TFM president Jose Rodito Angeles said the dispersal was an indication of DAR's growing inability to address agrarian reform issues and to implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

"Day after day the will of DAR to address agrarian issues and to fulfill its mandate of implementing CARP is growing weaker and weaker, that is why it has to resort to dispersal of farmers who were trying to air their just demands," Angeles said.

Constantino Sales, Fortich Farm Landless Farmers Beneficiaries Association (FLFBA) President, said that the farmers gathered in front of the DAR Region office at around 7 a.m. on June 12 to press DAR to conduct an ocular inspection of the 300-hectare Fortich Farm owned by Carlos Fortich Sr.

The farmers also denounced the decision of Pangandaman affirming the exemption of more than 856 hectares from coverage because the area is allegedly used for livestock. The area is agricultural land because it is devoted to pineapples for export and Cavendish bananas, the farmers insisted.

Sales said DAR had backtracked on its effort to conduct the survey after farm security guards twice blocked the entry of DAR and Land Bank of the Philippines personnel on November 15 and December 4 last year.

"DAR officials are using the security guards as excuse not to conduct the survey, which is necessary before the CARP process in the Fortich Farm can proceed. But if they really want to, they can ask police assistance to conduct the survey. Instead, they called the police to disperse the farmers," Sales said.

He said that after the protesting farmers had conducted a noise barrage to amplify their demand, a police vehicle with 12 policemen in full battle gear arrived and asked the farmers to get away from the gate.

When the farmers refused, saying they wanted to have dialogue first with DAR officials, the police started to disperse them and confiscated their streamers and materials.