MANILA, Philippines -- Armed with white roses and guitars, at least 10 farmers from Negros Occidental sought the help of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in resolving the eight-year old land dispute with the Arroyos.

“We are asking the CBCP to help us farmers/beneficiaries of the land owned by the Arroyos in setting up a dialogue with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo so that she might know the true state of the land of her husband, so that she might know the truth,” said Jose Angeles, Task Force Mapalad president, in a letter in Filipino addressed to Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo on Thursday.

Task Force Mapalad is a peasant group that supports the farmers’ call for the immediate approval of the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

At 10 a.m., farmers arrived at the CBCP office in Intramuros, Manila, and offered 157 white roses to the bishops. The 157 roses symbolize the 157 hectare Hacienda Bacan in Isabela province owned by the family of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and which is being sought for distribution under CARP. The roses also represent the farmers’ gratefulness to Lagdameo for the Archbishop’s support for CARP extension.

The farmers believe that only the CBCP could help them solve the land dispute.

“We face great odds because the landowner is related to President Arroyo and, therefore, is very powerful. We want the Catholic bishops to help arrange a dialogue between us and the President,” said Renato Garay, the leader of the farmers.

In the letter, Angeles said that in 2001, Arroyo placed the 157-hectare of land under CARP and was subject for distribution to farmers. But up to now, the land has yet to be distributed.

“But until now, this has remained a promise. There is a pending application for conversion on Hacienda Bacan where a bio-fuel ethanol plant might be built. We the farmers of the hacienda who are camped out in front of the Department of Agrarian reform Central Office cannot return to work if we are to go home now,” Angeles said.

Lagdameo was not present when the farmers arrived, but CBCP officials assured them that the roses and letters would be sent to the bishop.