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The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) raised a howl on the appointment of former senator Ramon Revilla Sr. to the Public Estates Authority. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “this appointment is highly irregular and runs smack of political payback. A prize for letting his highly popular son now Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to run under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ticket, to attract more voters,” “This also poses an imminent threat to farmers and our lands, particularly in the province of Cavite. Up till now the goons of the former senator are conducting harassment operations in Brgy. Cabangaan, Silang, Cavite to drive farmers from their lands, which Nardong Putik is claiming as his own. More than 37 families or 169 individuals are being affected by these terroristic acts and it may only intensify with the appointment of Revilla,” added the peasant leader. The Public Estates Authority is vested with the power and authority to develop and dispose of idle public lands, enter into contracts and loan agreements with private, public or foreign entities, and exercise the right of eminent domain in the name of the Republic of the Philippines. “With all these powers at his command, the lands of farmers are in constant peril. The 25 hectare prime agricultural land with coffee and pineapple crops in Silang, Cavite may be a test case to be used by the old Revilla to exercise his new position. We are hoping that it will not happen, because the farmers are ready to defend the land to their death, they have been there for more than fifty years and now they are being bullied to leave,” said Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP. “We are challenging the former senator
to stop his maneuverings to get the land that the farmers have spilt their
sweat and blood to till. As a new government official you should use your
post at the behest of the populace and not the one who appointed you, but
if you cannot do this you might as well resign,” ended Ala. # # #
KMP - 21 September 2004 |
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