Sumilao farmers march again, this time to support Leni, Kiko

Farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon have began a combination of caravan and march from Bukidnon province in Mindanao all the way to Manila to campaign for Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, who is running for president in tandem with Sen. Francis Pangilinan, The farmers said it was their way of expressing gratitude to Robredo who helped them in their fight to reclaim their ancestral domain. Photo shows the farmers marching upon their arrival in Cagayan de Oro Sunday, April 3. JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—In 2007, they made headlines when they marched from Bukidnon to Metro Manila to fight for their ancestral domain.

Fifteen years hence, and as the May elections near, the Sumilao farmers are on their way to Metro Manila once again, no longer to reclaim their tribal land, but to return a favor.

Noland Peñas, son of one of the Sumilao farmers who marched to Metro Manila in 2007, said the farmers already won the legal battle that eventually got them back their 144-hectare land, thanks to the help of legal professionals who volunteered their time and resources for the farmers.

One of those who extended legal aid was Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, then a practicing lawyer connected with the nongovernment group Saligan.

Now that Robredo is gunning for the presidency with Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as her running mate, 17 Sumilao farmers organized a caravan to march and campaign for her, Peñas said during their brief stopover Sunday, April 3, in this city.

He said it was their way of repaying her for the help she extended to the farmers.

The Sumilao farmers kicked off on March 28 their 17-man caravan in Maramag town in Bukidnon, aiming to end it in Luzon on May 7, Peñas said during a short program at the Gaston Park here.

He said their group was composed of 10 farmers from Sumilao and seven representatives from other peasant organizations, signifying Robredo’s and Pangilinan’s respective numbers on the ballot.

Its sum, 17, symbolizes the 17th president of the country, which they believe should be Robredo.

“We want to show the ‘resibo’ (receipt or proof) of what Leni and Kiko have already done for us farmers in Sumilao,” Peñas said, adding that other peasants also benefited from the government interventions implemented by the Office of the Vice President in the last five years.

Before they reached this city, the group had made stops in Cotabato, Mamasapano in Maguindanao, Tacurong City, General Santos City, Digos City, Davao City, Davao de Oro, and Butuan City.

From Cagayan de Oro, the contingent will traverse the cities of Iligan and Pagadian before boarding a ferry to Dumaguete and making the rounds on the Negros islands and other areas in the Visayas. They were expected to reach Luzon on April 18.

Once they arrive in Gumaca, Quezon province on April 20, they will walk to Luneta Park’s kilometer zero marker, Peñas said.

The group plans to do a 400-kilometer march and a 2,000-kilometer caravan during their journey.

Peñas said they would not only march but would also campaign for Robredo and Pangilinan.

“This caravan will prove that campaigning is not limited to politicians, and we are the living witness that democracy in the Philippines is alive and thriving,” he added.

For Miraflor Rojo, a member of the Sumilao group, campaigning for Robredo is a way to show their support for the vice president.

“We campaigned for her in 2016. We also conducted a caravan when she ran for vice president. And once again, we are helping her now that she is running for president,” Rojo added.

“Our dream for good governance is not just for our leaders but also for the people who (should be) empowered and (should get) involved,” Archbishop Jose Cabantan, the head of the archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, said of the Sumilao farmers.

Retired Archbishop Antonio Ledesma reminded voters to vote based on the five Cs criteria: conscience, competence, compassion, companion, and commitment.

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