Farmer-protester injured at anti-Carp rally in House
Video by Marc Jayson Cayabyab/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—A protest rally in the House of Representatives turned violent Wednesday as one farmer-protester was allegedly punched in the face as they were being dragged outside the chamber.
The group led by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Anakpawis was supposed to attend the plenary when they staged a protest action for genuine agrarian reform at the lobby in front of the plenary.
As they were being dragged outside, one of the protesters, Gary Constantino of Anakpawis, was injured in the nose.
The farmers were opposing the passage of House Bill 4296 calling for the additional coverage of lands not yet issued with notice of coverages under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp). The bill was authored by Akbayan.
The militant farmers scored the alleged alliance of Akbayan with landlords in pushing for the bill, which they said would only extend Carp, though solons said the bill was only for the completion of the program and not an extension.
The farmers expressed support for Anakpawis Representative Fernando Hicap’s House Bill 252 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform bill (Garb), which calls for free land distribution and nationalization of all public lands.
Constantino accused the security officials of punching him in the nose.
Gary Constantino. INQUIRER.net/MARC CAYABYAB
“Ilatag niyo sa harap, kilala ko! (Bring them out here in front, I know them), ” the farmer-protester dared the security officials outside the plenary.
“Nagpapahayag lamang kami ng mapayapa dahil tutol kami sa (We’re expressing ourselves peacefully because we’re not in favor of) Carp extension and reforms. Ayaw na namin ng (We don’t want an) extension,” he said while trying his best to stop the bleeding with a bloodied towel.
Rep. Hicap condemned the incident and said he will call for an investigation and file proper charges.
“Ang masaklap, sa kabila ng mapayapang pagkilos para irehistro ang suporta sa Garb, sinuntok pa siya…. Tinanong ko sila bakit nangyari ang ganun at bakit hindi niyo nagawa na mapayapa ang pagkilos, bakit nagkaroon pa ng ganitong may masaktan sa lehitimo at makatarungan nilang panawagan (What’s unfortunate is despite the peaceful protest to register the support for Garb, he was beaten…I asked them why did that happen…why someone was hurt in a legitimate and just petition),” he said.
While Garb is still pending in the committee, Akbayan’s House Bill 4296 is set to be approved in the chamber by June upon President Aquino’s endorsement.
HB 4296 seeks to extend for another two years the authority of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to issue notices of coverage and provide adequate funding for support services to agricultural landholdings not yet placed under Carp.
The bill would be amended on the floor to say that it is for the completion of the Carp and not an extension.
The Carp, known as the landmark agrarian reform legislation which started under the Corazon Aquino administration, was extended in 2009 for another five years under the law Carp extension with reforms (Carper), but no law was passed repealing the implementation when the program expired in 2012.
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