The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) warned Mamburao’s despotic landlord Ricardo Quintos to be careful on his testimony on the trial of the Mamburao 7, because he is bordering on the libelous. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group “we are studying the possibility of filing libel charges against Quintos and we are now consulting our lawyers. This is due to the fact that Mr. Quintos made a false statement during the last hearing of the Mamburao 7 case. He said that Mr. Villarosa gave money to our organization right after the killing of his two sons,”
“This is pure harassment of the KMP, who has always stood and fought for the rights of the peasantry to land. In this case on the fight of the Mamburao 7 to regain their freedom and for them to finally have the right to the land they have tilled. Quintos has been a foremost distorter of the truth and is an expert in the criminalization of agrarian cases,” furthered the peasant leader.

The Mamburao 7 had been in prison since 1998 on charges of murder. Their release papers have already been signed since 2001 by Pres.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and all the departments needed in the process, but up till now they are still in jail. The NDF has also continuously called for the freedom of the farmers as a confidence-building measure on the side of the government for the peace process but the GRP did nothing of the request. It is one of the reasons why the peace talks is still suspended,  and the governments non-compliance with its commitments. 

“We are now asking Judge Ma.Teresita Yadao to issue a fair and just decision for the Mamburao 7. They and their families have long been suffering because of their imprisonment for a deed that they did not even commit,” said Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP.

“The case of the Mamburao 7 is an epitome of the prevailing justice system in our country, if they are to be continued to be punished based on hearsay by Quintos then it is a complete indictment of the Philippine judicial system. What is more deplorable is that while the Mamburao 7 is imprisoned Quintos and his goons are wrecking havoc in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. Now, where is the justice in that?” ended Ala. # # #
 

KMP - 7 September 2004