MANILA, Philippines - As more lawmakers back the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has said the Church would not give up the fight for land reform for the sake of poor farmers.
CBCP spokesperson Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III said the Catholic Church is keeping track of the lawmakers in favor and those against House Bill 4077.
As of Feb. 18, Quitorio said they were able to identify 80 congressmen in favor of CARP.
“We have a list on that. We have a scorecard for us to know who among our lawmakers are in favor and against,” Quitorio said.
Among the congressman who are supporting the bill are Roque Ablan (1st district, Ilocos Norte), Ronald Singson (1st district, Ilocos Sur), Eric Singson (2nd district, Ilocos Sur), Arthur Celeste (1st district, Pangasinan), Victor Agbayani (2nd district, Pangasinan), Jose de Venecia (4th district, Pangasinan), Carlo Diasnes (Batanes), Florencio Vargas (2nd district, Cagayan), Manuel Mamba (3rd district, Cagayan), Edwin Uy (2nd district, Isabela), Giorgidi Aggabao (4th district, Isabela), Carlos Padilla (Nueva Vizcaya);
Junie Cua (Quirino), Anna Bondoc (4th district, Pampanga), Eduardo Joson (1st district, Nueva Ecija), Rodolfo Antonino (4th district, Nueva Ecija), Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado (1st district, Bulacan), Pedro Pancho (2nd district, Bulacan), Lorna Silverio (3rd district, Bulacan), Reylina Nicolas (4th district, Bulacan), Arturo Robles (San Jose del Monte), Joseph Abaya (1st district, Cavite), Justin Chipeco (2nd district, Laguna), Maria Arago (3rd district, Laguna), Edgar San Luis (4th district, Laguna), Wilfrido Enverga (1st district, Quezon Province), Proceso Alcala (2nd district, Quezon Province), Danilo Suarez (3rd district, Quezon Province), Lorenzo Tañada III (4th district, Quezon Province), Liwayway Vinzons-Chato (Camarines Norte), Edcel Lagman (1st district, Albay);
Reno Lim (3rd district, Albay), Salvador Escudero (1st district, Sorsogon), Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (3rd district, Masbate), Exequiel Javier (Antique), Niel Tupas (5th district, Iloilo), Orlando Fua (Siquijor), Emil Ong (2nd district, Northern Samar), Glenn Chong (Biliran), Belma Cabilao (1st district, Zamboanga Sibugay), Ann Hofer (2nd district, Zamboanga Sibugay), Yevgeny Emano (2nd district, Misamis Oriental), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro), Teofisto Gungona III (2nd district, Bukidnon), Pedro Romualdo (Camiguin), Arrel Olaño (1st district, Davao Norte), Marc Cagas (1st district, Davao Sur), Franklin Bautista (2nd district, Davao Sur);
Datu Mangudadatu (1st district, Sultan Kudarat), Darlene Antonino-Custodio (1st district, South Cotabato), Arthur Pingoy (2nd district, South Cotabato), Guillermo Romarate (2nd district, Surigao Norte), Florencio Garay (2nd district, Surigao Sur), Elias Bulut (Apayao), Cecilia Seares-Luna (Abra), Manuel Agyao (Kalinga), Solomon Chungalao (Ifugao), Faysah Dumarpa (1st district, Lanao Sur), Pangalian Balindong (2nd district, Lanao Sur), Yusop Jikiri (1st district, Sulu), Nur Jaafar (Tawi-Tawi), Del de Guzman (2nd district, Marikina);
Roman Romulo (Pasig), Ma. Laarni Cayetano (1st district, Pateros/Taguig), Ronaldo Zamora (San Juan), Teodoro Locsin (1st district, Makati), Mar-Len Binay (2nd district, Makati), Roilo Golez (2nd district, Parañaque), Benjamin Asilo (1st district, Manila), Jaime Lopez (2nd district, Manila), Bienvenido Abante (6th district, Manila), Alvin Sandoval (Malabon/Navotas), Magtanggol Gunigundo (2nd district, Valenzuela), Rozzano Biazon (Muntinlupa), Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel (Akbayan), Mujiv Hataman (Amin), Edgar Valdez (Apec), Irwin Tieng (Buhay), Leonila Chavez (Butil), and Joel Villanueva (Cibac).
Quitorio said despite the opposition by some lawmakers, the Church would continue with its advocacy for agrarian reform as long as the government continues to refuse to give attention to this issue, which is “very legitimate and constitutional.”