The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) once again lambasted the government for up till now holding the Mamburao detainees in prison. According to Danilo "Ka Daning" Ramos, secretary general of the group, "since 2001 the release papers of the farmers have already been signed by the president herself and the heads of all departments pertinent to their release, how come that they are still in jail?"

 "Is the clout of the despotic landlord Ricardo Quintos that strong that the government itself cannot enact its own order, because he is against it?" asked the peasant leader.

 The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has long been calling for the release of the peasant activists and says that it would be a good confidence-building measure to give a boost to the stalled peace talks.

 As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP said "Manolito Matricio, Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista, Eduardo Hermoso, Mario Tobias, Joshua Ungsod and Orlando Estanes should be immediately and unconditionally be released to help the peace process. These farmers have suffered enough and for an offense they did not even commit,"

 “We are calling on the government to fulfill its obligations on the agreements because their sincerity on the talks is now on the line for they have very minimally done their end of the agreements. Let these farmers continue with their lives free from the shackles of prison, their families have long been waiting for them. The government should not let them wait in vain,” ended Ala. # # #

KMP - 19 August 2004