Incoming DAR head vows: No farmers displaced from their lands

Incoming Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano on Wednesday vowed “to ensure that no farmers will be displaced from their farmland” as he promised to make reforms in the department.

Mariano, chair of the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), said he would strengthen farmers’ security of tenure over their lands.

“We will conduct a no-holds barred review and reversal of the [Department of Agrarian Reform’s] antifarmer decisions, a moratorium on land-use conversion, and a stop to the cancellation of farmers’ land ownership certificates, among others,” Mariano said in a statement.

Under his leadership, he said he would immediately review the sham “tambiolo” land reform implemented by the agency in Hacienda Luisita.

“This review will also include the pending petition by farmers for the revocation of the land-use conversion issued by the DAR in favor of the Cojuangcos of Hacienda Luisita,” he said.

KMP said the Cojuangco-Aquinos, relatives of outgoing President Benigno Aquino III, are now securing control over the more than 6,000-hectare Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.

“While we welcome President-elect Duterte’s appointment of KMP chairperson Rafael ‘Ka Paeng’ Mariano as secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Filipino peasantry must not put their guard down,” Antonio Flores, KMP secretary general said.

“The Filipino peasantry should continue and heighten their collective assertion of their rights to the land. Big landlords led by the Cojuangco-Aquinos are fortifying their stranglehold over vast landholdings like Hacienda Luisita,” Flores added.

KMP claimed the Conjuangcos “immediately maneuvered to secure their landholdings” after they learned that Mariano was assigned as DAR chief.

KMP cited a recent incident of violence against farmers of Hacienda Luisita after agents of the Cojuangco-Aquino family attempted to demolish a farmers’ house in Barangay Mapalacsiao, inside Hacienda Luisita.

Citing reports by the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), KMP said the house of victim, Charlito “Tatang Gerry” Catalan, was reportedly destroyed by a “demolition team” sent by barangay captain Edison Diaz of nearby village Lourdes even without showing any court order.

KMP said farmworkers were able to identify some members of the team such as Ronnie Reyes, a certain Junior Baul, and Andong Basa, known employees of Agriculto, a sugarcane planters organization connected to the Cojuangco-Aquino family.

KMP said farmworkers from the alliance Ambala were able to stop the men before they completely destroyed Catalan’s home.

“With this development, the Filipino peasantry must strengthen their mass movement and prepare for bigger confrontation and struggle in the light of big landlords escalating opposition to anticipated policy changes and reversals of the DAR’s prolandlord decisions,” Flores said.

Mariano said “still, it is important for the Filipino peasantry to mainly rely on their organized strength and collective actions in asserting their rights to the land.”