Farmers Tag Iggy Arroyo in Anti-CARP Moves

Peasant federation Task Force Mapalad (TFM) has tagged presidential brother-in-law Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo (5th District, Negros Occidental) as one of the prime movers behind the Negros lawmakers’ act to cross political lines and consolidate their ranks to stop extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beyond 2008.

“The claim by an unidentified source that Congressman Iggy Arroyo is not one of those who oppose CARP extension is simply unbelievable,” said TFM president Jose Rodito Angeles.

Reports said the other day that congressmen who own vast tracts of land in Negros have bonded together despite political difference to vote against CARP extension.

“It is common knowledge in Negros Occidental that Iggy was a prominent figure in the formation of the group called Concerned Landowners of Negros precisely to prevent CARP extension,” said Angeles.

He said the landowners’ group had repeatedly called for a review of CARP before any move is made to extend it.

“Iggy has at least one big reason to oppose CARP. He plans to build an ethanol plant in Hacienda Bacan, owned by the First Gentleman. The hacienda is subject to coverage by CARP, and he wants to prevent its distribution,” said Angeles.

Angeles said extending CARP beyond 2008 would benefit six million Negrenses while ending CARP would only benefit a few individuals, including Iggy and another Negros Occidental solon, Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District).

Angeles noted that among all provinces, Negros Occidental has the highest land acquisition and distribution (LAD) backlog, accounting for 180,00 hectares of private agricultural lands.

Angeles said DAR had admitted that the province has the highest LAD backlog because of resistance and political maneuvers by big landowners who are against CARP.

Earlier, farmers of the 157-hectare Hacienda Bacan had called on President Arroyo to order the distribution of the hacienda as proof of her promised “legacy” in the remaining years of her term.

“The president said she wanted the remaining years of her presidency to become the legacy phase. Distribution of Hacienda Bacan could be part of that legacy,” said TFM-Negros spokesperson Edna Sobrecaray.

Hacienda Bacan, in Barangay Guintubhan, Isabela, was placed under CARP coverage in 1996 through compulsory acquisition.

In 2001, following President Arroyo’s announcement that she would distribute the Arroyo lands, the hacienda was offered by Iggy to CARP under voluntary offer to sell (VOS).

However, the Land Bank of the Philippines refused to process the hacienda’s claim folder saying Iggy had no authority to VOS the property since Mike Arroyo was the actual landowner.

DAR said it had asked the First Gentleman to issue a letter of intent for VOS, but to date no such letter had been issued.

Sobrecaray said: “Iggy had been unethical in calling for a review of CARP when his real intention was to push for its non-extension and save the hacienda of his brother from being distributed under CARP.”(30)

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