CPP/Ang Bayan: Plantation expansion results in bloody conflict

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 21, 2020): Plantation expansion results in bloody conflict

The landgrabbing of Tiruray and Moro ancestral lands by big agribusiness corporations is the reason behind a bloody conflict in Ba­ra­ngay Ka­la­mo­ngog, Le­bak, Sul­tan Ku­da­rat.

The conflict escalated with the entry of the La­pan­day Foods Cor­po­ra­ti­on, an agribusiness corporation owned by the landlord comprador Lo­renzo family which is notorious for bootlicking whoever is in power. The company has been operating its banana plantation in the area for more than one year. It deceived residents into selling or leasing their lands in exchange for money and employment. However, not all were convinced as some families opposed the entry of the plantation.

The company deployed its private security forces that were backed by the AFP. They employed some of residents who agreed approved of their operation.
The company provoked the said residents to evict the farmers who are opposed to its operations by claiming that the lands that the farmers have since been tilling are part of their ancestral domain.

The company succeeded in dividing the community. The rift escalated last year after the murder of former barangay captain Dios­da­do M. Eleazar, who was known for opposing the plantation expansion. Residents disclosed that armed goons were behind the crime but both the local government and the PNP have not acted on the crime to the hold suspects accountable.

He was replaced by former first councilor Hai­ru­din Ta­to Gu­bel who was a critic of the plantation. He was killed by the plantation’s armed goons on March 17. He was replaced by incumbent barangay officer-in-charge No­lasco Za­mo­ra Ado who is a personnel of the company.
The company is making it appear that the conflict in Ka­la­mo­ngog is a tribal war between Ti­ru­rays and Mo­ros. In an interview, Ado accused the relatives of Gubel of involvement in an shooting incident which took place in Sitio Kia­tong on March 25. He is also asserting that the ongoing conflict is politically motivated.

Residents are worried that if the conflict will continue to escalate, they will no longer be able to return to their lands that are being grabbed by Lapanday.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/21/plantation-expansion-results-in-bloody-conflict/