Bayan Muna Seeks Probe on Arrest of Infant, Activists

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PUBLISHED ON November 28, 2007 AT 1:46 PM

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo today strongly condemned the arrest of ten peasant activists and a nine-month old baby in Cebu on November 18. He called for the victims’ immediate release and congressional probe on the incident.

Reports to Ocampo’s office named those arrested by joint elements of the 78th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police – Tuburan, Cebu as: Jocelyn Arias (57), Florencia Mojado (54), spouses Arsenio (57) & Anastacia (57) Pasumala, spouses Abello (64) & Lolita (60) Arias, spouses Tomas (47) & Elizabeth (47) Mainit, and Ceasar (41) & Avelina Balibad (42) and their 9-month-old baby Rose. All are farmers and residents of Brgy. Marmol, Tuburan, Cebu, and members of the local peasant group Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Marmol (NAMAMA) affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

“The safety and welfare of baby Rose and the ten peasant activists are a matter of urgent concern,” Ocampo said.

Ocampo also said that baby Rose and her parents Ceasar and Avelina Balibad, together with Arsenio Pasumala, Abello Arias, Tomas Mainit are under the custody of the PNP – Tuburan station, while the other women farmers are held at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Cebu City.

He said the case is an offshoot of a land dispute between the farmers and a certain Virginia Balbuena, the alleged landowner.

The alleged landowner accused the victims of stealing crops they themselves have planted. She charged the victims with qualified theft before the Regional Trial Court – 7, Branch 29 in Toledo City and secured an arrest warrant on April 12, 2007.

However, the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources Officer has certified a declaration that the 9-hectare disputed land is part of a timberland area. Thus, it can not be titled or owned by private individuals.

“Landlords have resorted to the criminalization of agrarian cases as a scheme to evict farmers from their farmlands,” the Bayan Muna lawmaker said.

Ocampo said that “it appears that the military and the local police have allowed themselves to be used by landlords as a private army.”

Ocampo called for the immediate release of the victims, especially baby Rose and her parents, and urged the House committees on agrarian reform and human rights to immediately conduct an investigation on the victims’ arrest. #

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