CAGAYAN DE ORO. Farmers from the different places in Northern Mindanao march on the streets here again on Tuesday’s National Peasants Day to press their demands for a genuine land reform program in the country. (Joey P. Nacalaban)
ABOUT 700 farmers from the eastern part of Misamis Oriental on board six dumptrucks did not arrive on time to attend the National Peasant Day held at Kiosko sa Kagawasan (Freedom Kiosk) in Divisoria on Tuesday because they were allegedly flagged down by the military in Medina town, Misamis Oriental.
Farmer Eduardo Quidet said their convoy of dumptrucks, owned by the Provincial Government, was stopped by the army's 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB) checkpoint in Barangay Maanas, Medina around 8 a.m.
Quidet said after more than an hour of being held up, they were finally released. They arrived at Divisoria around 11:30 a.m.
Quidet is the field coordinator for eastern Misamis Oriental area of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Northern Mindanao Region (KMP-NMR).
“Ila ‘ming gi-hold kay wala kuno sila kasabot aha paingon ang mga tawo. Among giignan nga moapil sa usa ka kalihukan sa mga mag-uuma (They held us because they did not understand where the people were going. We told them we were joining a gathering for farmers),” he said.
Quidet asked the soldiers why they were apprehensive considering the trucks used belonged to the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental and had the permission of Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano.
They were held by the soldiers for more than an hour, and a copy of the group’s permit had been demanded from them.
But the group didn’t have a copy of the permit since the KMP-NMR regional office has it.
He said it was the first time they were stopped by the military since they have been attending the yearly farmers’ activity for 10 years.
They were only allowed to proceed when Quidet blurted out “sige, molarga ‘mi. Pusila ‘mi kay mopadayon ‘mi (we are going ahead. Shoot us, but we will push through).”
Richard Colao, KMP-NMR secretary-general, said they had secured a permit from the office of Mayor Oscar Moreno to hold the rally and they were even escorted by Roads and Traffic Administration enforcers during their march from the Provincial Capitol to the Kiosko to ensure the activity proceeded smoothly.
Colao said they also asked the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) to secure the site of the protest rally.
Random checkpoints
In a separate interview Tuesday, Major Christian Uy, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID), confirmed that the 58IB is conducting random checkpoints from time to time in the area.
“Timing nag-conduct sila og checkpoint. Dili lang kay karon lang na sila nag-checkpoint,” Uy said.
He said the soldiers did it for safety precaution, “Igo lang sila gi-check, then they (farmers) were allowed to proceed.”
One of those who attended the rally, Resim Baculi, of the Upper Puerto Fight Carp Beneficiaries Association (UPFCBA) in Barangay Puerto, is optimistic when they got an assurance from the Registry of Deeds on Monday that their Certificate of Land Ownership Award (Cloa) of the 23-hectare land will soon be released.
“We hope that this will finally be realized,” Baculi said, adding their application for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) for the contested lot forms part of the 23-hectare lot in Upper Puerto is owned by a private company.
He said they are hopeful the ROD will keep its word of giving them the Cloa next week.
Sr. Fam Somogod, of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), said the support they have extended to the peasants in the region has been ongoing.
Among the assistance the tillers have received from the RMP are farm implements, as well as processing of documents for their application for Carp.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/10/22/military-flags-down-farmers-safety-precaution-372385
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