Satur Warns of Arroyo-Danding Collusion Vs Sumilao Farmers

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Representative Satur C. Ocampo today said that “the political collusion between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and San Miguel Corp. Chair Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. will be a major roadblock to the Sumilao farmers demand for land.”

Ocampo’s reaction was issued after Malacanang revoked a conversion order on a 144-hectare agricultural property in Sumilao, Bukidnon. But the farmers said the order had no clear directive on what the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) should do next.

He said that “Malacanang’s order means that the farmers will undergo the so-called coverage process and, knowing Danding, the farmers will surely face stiff opposition from SMC which is now the ‘new landowner’ of the disputed land. The order is practically the same as (former President Fidel) Ramos’ so-called win-win solution. ”

“Mrs. Arroyo’s granting political accommodation and economic concession to Danding Cojaungco is what prevents her and the Department of Agrarian Reform from exercising political will to give the land back to the farmers,” Ocampo said.

He added that highly unacceptable accommodation and concessions by the President “can be seen not only in the Sumilao farmers’ case but in controversial disputes particularly over the multi-billion coconut levy fund.”

“This also explains why Danding’s SMC is now pushing for the expansion of its cassava plantation and ethanol project in more than 30,000 hectares of land in Negros, Isabela and Cagayan that the Isabela-Cagayan farmers oppose,” said Ocampo.

Ocampo, co-author of House Bill 3059 or the proposed Genuine Agrarian Reform Act of 2007, added that “the Sumilao case highlights the bogus character of the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). ”

“The Sumilao farmers’ plight is a concrete case where landlords made use of the CARP itself to evade land distribution. Land-use conversion is one of the major arguments provided by CARP to landowners’ legal arsenal to maintain ownership and control of the lands,” the militant lawmaker said.

Ocampo also cited DAR records showing that from 1979 to December 31, 2003, there were 2,885 approved applications for conversion involving 40,485.9124 hectares of agricultural lands, while the National Statistics Office (NSO), in 2002, cited that 827,892 hectares of agricultural land have been converted to other uses.

The Sumilao land dispute was triggered by the move of Norberto Quisumbing to apply for conversion and proposed a five-year development plan. The application for conversion was approved by Malacanang and upheld by the Supreme Court. Despite failing to implement the development plan, Quisumbing managed to sell the land to SMC. #