Militant solons slam DAR ‘shame campaign’

MANILA, Philippines–The Makabayan bloc of militant party-list lawmakers blasted the “shame campaign” launched by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) against opponents of the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap said the decision of the DAR to identify and embarrass the 44 lawmakers opposed to House Bill No. 4296 was meant to divert attention from the agency’s almost three-decades-long failure to take the vast landholdings of hacienderos for distribution to farmers.

“The shame campaign operation of the DAR was meant to block the passage of House Bill No. 252, or the genuine agrarian reform bill. It also wants to appease the bishops’ growing unease with the Aquino’s leadership,” Hicap said in a statement.

Hicap said the DAR itself proved to be the biggest stumbling block to genuine agrarian reform.–Gil C. Cabacungan