Farmers file complaint vs. Fusilero

CEBU, Philippines - Around 70 farmers residing and cultivating since the 1960’s in the Cebu City mountain barangays of Tabunan, Sudlon and Taptap, particularly from its sitio Cantipla, formally filed a complaint against retired PNP general Tiburcio Fusilero and his alleged armed goons yesterday at the Commission on Human Rights-7.

Members of Tabunan-Taptap-Cantipla Farmers Association formed in 2008 also sent a letter addressed to CHR-7 regional director Alejandro Alonzo.

They claimed in their letter that Fusilero and his men wanted them to vacate their farms and plant trees which they oppose. Further, six of them had been already charged and imprisoned for a case of “illegal cutting of trees” filed by Fusilero.

Gomercendo Alcantara, 29, a farmer from Cantipla I, Taptap, said that he was one of the six farmers who were imprisoned for two months in 2005 after Fusilero filed a case against them for illegally cutting trees that was referred to Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7.

“Wala nipahigayon og pakisusi ang DENR-7 sa maong kaso nga gisang-at ni Fusilero sa amo, kun tinood ba o dili, na-priso kami sulod sa duha ka buwan,” he said.

They had to post a bail of P9,500 each.

It was only after they sought the help of an NGO, the Farmers’ Development Center, that some of the cases filed against them were dismissed for lack of basis.

It was also stated in the letter that Fusilero deceived the public by encouraging them to plant trees within the farms cultivated by the farmers of the said place in the name of “reforestation” to cover the real personal business interest of the retired general.

They also questioned if indeed Fusilero is for reforestation because he is allegedly not planting trees in the areas within the coverage of his “memorandum of agreement” where there are no farms.

The MOA was made and entered into by and between the DENR pursuant to Executive Order No. 192 dated June 10, 1987 represented that time by Secretary Antonio Cerilles and Fusilero as PNP-7 regional director. In the MOA, Fusilero was awarded of 505 hectares of land for a reforestation contract.

They further alleged that since Fusilero’s men came to their communities, they have been barred from tilling their farms and are always in fear.

“His ‘armed goons’ are always roving around our communities brandishing short and long high-powered firearms, harassing us to vacate especially during those times when there are no Cebu City police in the mountains,” they said.

They also claimed that last August 29, 2009 at 2 p.m. while they met with FARDEC’s lawyer Kim Mendoza, three of Fusilero’s men barged in and shot at Marcelino Soronio, one of the members of TCFA.

Marcelino was able to run for cover but the children around were almost hit and traumatized.

Another fellow farmer Timotheo Alcantara was allegedly almost shot had it not been for the intervention of Mendoza while the house of another farmer Flordeliza Lepiten was vandalized and damaged.

Aside from Fusilero, TCFA members also positively identified the armed “goons” and also filed complaints against Jessie Tibalan, Manuel Cabilao and Rolando Agojar, all reportedly policemen from the province and Cristituto Ruaza, Reneboy Rosalado, Danilo Villiavan, Richard Borres and a certain “JR” Pitogo.

Tabunan councilman Joselito Alindajao who is also the spokesman of TCFA, said that if there are lots within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape being sold such transactions are beyond their knowledge and involvement.

He added that they want the said MOA cancelled and that they also sent letters to DENR and to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“This is also for security reasons, aron nga dili na masubli ang nahitabo kaniadto nga adunay gipamatay,” said Alindajao.

Meanwhile CHR-7 supervising investigator Primo Cadampog said that they will be conducting a case conference next week to further study the said case before going to the said place for investigation. — Johanna T. Natavio/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)