Farmers hit DAR, Noy’s family over ‘promissory note’ requirement

MANILA, Philippines - Militant farmers yesterday criticized the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and President Aquino’s family on the required signing of a “promissory note” for farmers in Hacienda Luisita before the lands would be distributed to them.

This developed after Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) lawyer Antonio Ligon expressed support for DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes’ pronouncement that farmer-beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita will only get their share of land after signing a written commitment to pay for the land and make it productive.

Ligon said they agree with the DAR that the requirement is reasonable and legally sanctioned and that “the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) entails responsibilities on all sectors – for government to see to it that it really alleviates or improves the plight of the farm workers, and for the latter to pay for the land and take care of it for their present and future benefit.”

“Delos Reyes and Ligon’s statements clearly demonstrate that the President’s family will never let go of Hacienda Luisita,” said Kilusan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP) spokesman Antonio Flores.

“This requirement by the DAR will pave the way for big landlords across the country to follow the Cojuangcos’ lead and further worsen the anti-peasant CARP provision, confiscating the lands after non-payment of three consecutive amortizations,” the KMP leader said.

The KMP reiterated calls for the free distribution of Hacienda Luisita, insisting that “the farmworkers have long paid for the lands and the Cojuangco-Aquinos have enriched themselves for more than 55 years of illegal control and monopoly of the hacienda.”

In Tarlac, farmer groups denounced the alleged altered DAR final masterlist of farm workers-beneficiaries inside Hacienda Luisita and the illegal arrest of their three comrades on Feb. 28 during their rally.

Farmers from Hacienda Luisita and members of  Manggagawang Bukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), Anak Pawis, Alyasang Magbubukid sa Loob ng Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) and Bayan Muna converged in front of Metro Town mall along MacArthur highway in Barangay Sto. Cristo, Tarlac City at about 9 a.m. Sunday.                                  

The groups conducted a short program and denounced the final master list of farm-workers beneficiaries and the arrest of their comrades, who are currently detained at the Tarlac Police Provincial Office in Camp Makabulos. – Ric Sapnu