The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) together with its local chapter in Hacienda Looc, Nasugbu,Batangas the UMALPAS-KA (Ugnayan ng mga Mamamayan Laban sa Pangwawasak ng Kalupaan ng Hacienda Looc), went around Metro Manila on a mobile picket to assail the Macapagal-Arroyo administration for neglecting the basic right of farmers to own land. 

According to Leonardo Sevilla, chairperson of UMALPAS-KA, “Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has long been neglecting the plight of farmers and has even openly endorsed the further eviction of peasants from their land. Take Hacienda Looc for example, Henry Sy of Shoemart is taking 8,650 hectares that we have tilled for years away from us, with the full knowledge and blessing of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. She even prioritized the construction of the Nasugbu-Ternate Tourist Road just so that the planned Harbortown by Sy with his Fil-Estate and Manila Southcoast development Corporation will be fast-tracked,”

“What type of president sells the livelihood of her constituents? It is right and just to call for her ouster; she has only caused us suffering and misery. She does not deserve to stay a minute longer in Malacanang,” added the peasant leader. 

“Our mobile picket will start at 10 am at the Ortigas, Mandaluyong City office of the Fil-Estate Corporation, then we will proceed to Quezon City at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to protest their destruction of our land, and then go the Manila South coast Development Corporation (MSDC) office in Makati. These are all agencies and corporations sanctioned by Gloria to further oppress us,” added Sevilla.

“And as a sign of our growing call to oust Gloria from Malacanang we will participate in the massive rally against Gloria on July 25 on the State of the Nation Address,” ended Sevilla. # # #
 

KMP - 21 July 2005