𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎) 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐨, 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫
𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙙!
We, Farmers, Agrarian Reform Advocates, and Land and Human Rights Defenders firmly stand in solidarity with SARBEFO (Sagasan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmer Association), in their rightful struggle to assert their ownership over the 23.0925-hectare agricultural land awarded to them in 1990 under #AgrarianReform program of the government.
It is deeply disheartening and frustrating to reflect on the long years of relentless struggles endured by the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) – years of hope and persistence met with systemic delays, harassment and injustice. For over a decade and a half, the ARBs have been subjected to severe intimidations and harassments as though they were being strung along for the sake of token accomplishments whereby agency’s reason for being is to help them but real change remained out of reach. Programs and laws that were supposed to protect them have instead consistently favored the wealthy and “powerful”, perpetuating the suffering of those the reforms were intended to uplift.
Despite being the legal owners of the awarded agricultural lands, the ARBs are continuously deprived of the right to exercise their ownership, cultivate the land in peace, and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Instead they are subjected to harassment, violence on their persons and their immediate family members, intimidation, baseless suits and threats all designed to prevent and coerce them from exercising their right of ownership. The intimidations, violence and harassment they endured for more than a decade, and continuously endure reflect a system that is biased against the vulnerable, marginalized and powerless and prioritizes the interests of the powerful, well connected and moneyed.
Even with decisions from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office, specifically the recent ruling on June 28, 2024, signed by current DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, dismissing ADM. Case No. A-9999-09-CLT-326-2021 that was filed by the former landowner with prejudice and directing the immediate installation of the EP holders - affirming the ARBs’ claim on the land, the situation remains unjust. The former landowner continues to harvest coconuts from land they no longer legally own – crops planted by the ARBs, who are still denied the right to farm their land. This reversal of justice is an affront to the spirit of agrarian reform and a stark reminder of the systemic inequities farmers face today.
On January 15, 2025, SARBEFO ARBs, together with fellow farmers and land rights advocates, courageously occupied their land in a peaceful assertion of their rightful claim, yet again, risking intimidation and harassment. This act underscores their resilience and the moral imperative to reclaim what has long been denied to them.
We acknowledge the immense challenges they face that must end immediately:
•The systemic bias and lack of decisive action from local authorities and complete disregard of the order of DAR-Central, emboldening those who exploit legal loopholes to retain control over land that is no longer theirs.
•The emotional and economic toll of a struggle prolonged by vested interests and legal delays, robbing farmers of the opportunity to plant, harvest, and sustain their families.
•The silence of laws and institutions that fail to act swiftly to protect the most vulnerable.
The 15-year struggle of the ARBs is a painful reminder of how systemic inequities persist, leaving farmers without access to the land intended to provide them with dignity and livelihood. Yet, their bravery and perseverance through decades of suffering reaffirm the power of collective action.
We expressly demand to the local Department of Agrarian Reform to uphold the Central Office’s decision and ensure the ARBs are finally installed on their land.
We urgently call on the Department of Agrarian Reform and all relevant authorities to take immediate action to end this injustice. The rightful installation of the ARBs must be implemented without further delays. Their safety must be prioritized, and those responsible for harassments and exploitation must face accountability. Programs and policies must stop favoring the wealthy at the expense of marginalized farmers.
Lastly, we call on President “BongBong” Marcos Jr. to act decisively and honor agrarian reform as a cornerstone of his administration’s commitments more so as to honor the memory of his late father and author of PD 27. This is an opportunity to demonstrate true leadership and stand with the farmers who rely on his promise of justice and equity.
Above all, this struggle is not just about land, it is about life, social justice, and dignity of the farmers who are toiling to feed the nation. It is also about ensuring that the land awarded to farmers through decades of advocacy is not rendered meaningless by systemic bias and exploitation by indecisiveness of the powers that be.
In solidarity,
𝙎𝘼𝙍𝘽𝙀𝙁𝙊 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝
[1] Kahugpongan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Zamboanga del Sur (KAMAGMASUR),
[2] Convergence of Zamboanga Del Sur On Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. (CONZARRD),
[3] Kahugpongan sa Mag-uuma ug Mamumuong Kababayen-an sa Zambo. Sur (KASAMMAKA),
[4] Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA),
[5] Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan - Lanao (KILOS KA - Lanao),
[6] Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP), Cotabato City,
[7] Alliance of the Tri-People for the Advancement of Human Rights (ALTAHR), Cotabato City,
[8] Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA), Inc., Iligan City,
[9] Interfaith Movement for Peace (IMovePeace), Caraga Region,
[10] Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Quezon City
[11] Partido Manggagawa
[12] LABAN Kababaihan
[13] Europe Solidaire Sans Frontiers (ESSF), France
𝐏𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐠 𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐒𝐀𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐎) 𝐬𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐨, 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫
𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘺𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘵!
Kaming mga magsasaka, agrarian reform advocates, at mga land and human rights defenders ay lubos na nakikiisa sa SARBEFO (Sagasan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Organization) sa kanilang makatarungang pakikibaka upang igiit ang kanilang pagmamay-ari sa 23.095 ektaryang agricultural land na iginawad sa kanila noong 1990 sa ilalim ng programang agrarian reform ng gobyerno.
Nakakapanghina at nakagagalit ang mahabang panahong pakikibaka at pagtitiis ng Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)– mga taon ng pag-asa at pagpupursige na sinasagot lang ng mga pagkaantala ng sistema, pang-aabuso at kawalang-katarungan. Sa loob ng isang dekada’t kalahati, ang mga ARBs ay napasailalim sa matinding pang-aabuso at pananakot na para bang sila ay nababanggit lang para sabihing may nagawa kung saan ang dahilan sana ng pag iral ng ahensya ay para matulungan sila, ngunit ang pagbabagong inaasam ay nanatiling malayo sa kanilang mga kamay.
Sa kabila ng pagiging mga legal na may-ari ng mga iginawad na lupaing agrikultural, ang mga ARBs ay pinagkakaitan pa rin ng karapatang gamitin itoi, sakahin ang lupain nang mapayapa, at mapakinabangan ang mga bunga ng kanilang pagsisikap. Sa halip, sila ay naharap sa mga pang-aabuso, karahasan sa mga membro at kanilang mga pamilya, pananakot, kinakasuhan na walang basehan at pagbabanta na ang hangarin ay para pigilan silang magsaka at isakatuparan ang kanilang karapatan sa pagmamay ari ng lupain. Ang mga pananakot, panliligalig, at karahasan na kanilang tiniis sa loob ng higit isang dekada at patuloy pa ring tinitiis ay nagpapakita ng sistemang di patas sa mga mahihina, mahihirap, walang kapangyarihan at inuuna ang mga interes ng mayayaman, nasa kapangyarihan at maraming koneksyon sa burukrasya.
Kahit ang mga desisyon ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office, partikular na ang kamakailan lang na ruling noong June 28, 2024 na pinirmahan ng DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, na binasura ang ADM Case No. A-9999-09-CLT-326-2021 na sinumite ng dating landowner na may pagpabor na at direktibang agarang installation sa mga EP holders – at nagpapatibay sa lehitimasya ng laban ng mga ARBs, ang sitwasyon ay nananatili pa ring hindi makatarungan. Ang dating may-ari ay patuloy pa ring umaani ng mga niyog sa lupaing hindi na niya legal na pagmamay-ari – mga panananim na ito ng mga ARB, na hanggang ngayon ay pinagkaitan pa ring magsaka sa sarili nilang lupa. Ang pagbaliktad na ito ay isang paglapastangan sa diwa ng repormang agraryo at tanda ng sistematikong kawalang katarungan na kinakaharap ng mga magsasaka ngayon.
Noong ika-15 ng Enero, taong kasalukuyan, ang SARBEFO ARBs kasama ang mga kapwang magsasaka at mga land rights advocates ay matapang na pinasok ang kanilang lupain sa mapayapang paraan at pinilit lagpasan ang pananakot at pandarahas. Ang hakbang na ito ay upang ipakita ang kanilang katatagan at sama-samang pagbawi sa lupaing matagal nang ipinagkait sa kanila.
Nahaharap sila sa mga hamon na kailangang magwakas agad:
•Ang sistematikong pagkiling at kakulangan sa mapagpasyang kilos galing sa lokal na awtoridad at ang ganap na pagbalewala sa kautusan ng DAR-Central na pumapabor sa mga taong nagsasamantala sa mga kahinaan ng mga batas upang mapanatili ang kontrol sa lupang hindi na sa kanila.
•Ang emosyonal at pang-ekonomikong bagahe dulot ng mahabang pakikibaka hatid ng mga vested na interes at legal na pagkaantala, na nagnanakaw sa mga magsasaka ng pagkakataon na magtanim, mag ani, at magtaguyod ng kanilang pamilya.
•Ang pananahimik ng mga batas at institusyon na bigong protektahan ang mahihina.
Ang labinlimang taong pakikibaka ng mga ARBs ay isang masakit na patunay sa pangingibabaw ng mga sistematikong walang pagkapantay-pantay, na humahadlang sa mga magsasakang sakahin ang lupaing ang layon ay sa kanilang dignidad at kabuhayan. Ngunit, ang kanilang katapangan at pagnanatiling sa loob ng ilang dekada ng pagdurusa ay nagpapatibay muli sa kanilang kapangyarihan ng kolektibong pagkilos.
Kami ay nananwagan sa lokal na Department of Agrarian Reform na ipatupad ang desisyon ng Central Office at tiyakin na ang mga ARB ay tuluyan na ring makapagsaka sa sarili nilang lupa.
Kami rin ay kagyat na nananawagan sa Department of Agrarian Reform at sa lahat ng mga kinauukulang awtoridad na agad nang kumilos upang wakasan ang kawalang katarungan na ito.
Ang wastong pag-install ng mga ARB ay dapat na ipatupad nang walang karagdagan pang pagkaantala.
Dapat bigyang-prayoridad ang kanilang kaligtasan, at ang mga responsable sa pang-aabuso at pagsasamantala ay dapat managot. Ang mga programa at patakaran ay dapat na ring tumigil sa pagbibigay ng pabor sa mayayaman sa kapinsalaan at kapahamakan ng mga maliliit na magsasaka.
Panghuli, nananawagan kami kay Pangulong "BongBong" Marcos Jr. na kumilos nang mapagpasya at isakatuparan ang repormang agraryo bilang isa sa mga pangako ng kanyang administrasyo, at higit pa upang bigyang katuturan ang alaala ng kanyang yumaong ama na may akda ng PD 27. Ito ay isang pagkakataon upang ipakita ang maayos na pamumuno at manindigan sa mga magsasaka na pinangakuhan niya ng katarungan at pagkakapantay pantay.
Higit sa lahat, ang pakikibakang ito ay hindi lamang patungkol sa lupain, ito rin ay tungkol sa pamumuhay, katarungang panlipunan, at dignidad ng mga magsasakang nagpapagal at nagpapakahirap upang pakainin ang bansa. Tungkol din ito sa pagtiyak na ang lupang iginawad sa mga magsasaka sa kanilang ilang dekadang pakikibaka ay hindi nawawalan ng kabuluhan sa pamamagitan ng sistematikong pagkiling at pagsasamantala sa pamamagitan ng kawalang-kapasyahan ng mga kpangyarihang dapat magpatupad.
Sa pakikkiisa,
𝙎𝘼𝙍𝘽𝙀𝙁𝙊 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚
Pinirmahan ng:
[1] Kahugpongan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Zamboanga del Sur (KAMAGMASUR),
[2] Convergence of Zamboanga Del Sur On Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. (CONZARRD),
[3] Kahugpongan sa Mag-uuma ug Mamumuong Kababayen-an sa Zambo. Sur (KASAMMAKA),
[4] Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA),
[5] Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan - Lanao (KILOS KA - Lanao),
[6] Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP), Cotabato City,
[7] Alliance of the Tri-People for the Advancement of Human Rights (ALTAHR), Cotabato City,
[8] Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA), Iligan City,
[9] Interfaith Movement for Peace (IMovePeace), Caraga Region,
[10] Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Quezon City,
[11] Partido Manggagawa,
[12] LABAN Kababaihan,
[13] Europe Solidaire Sans Frontiers (ESSF), France
---
In French
Soutien à la lutte de la Sagasan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Organization (SARBEFO) à San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur
Une justice différée est une justice refusée !
Nous, agriculteurs, défenseurs de la réforme agraire, de la terre et des droits de l’homme, sommes fermement solidaires de la SARBEFO (Sagasan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmer Association), dans sa lutte légitime pour affirmer sa propriété sur les 23,0925 hectares de terres agricoles qui lui ont été attribuées en 1990 dans le cadre du programme #AgrarianReform du gouvernement.
Il est profondément décourageant et frustrant de réfléchir aux longues années de lutte acharnée endurées par les bénéficiaires de la réforme agraire (Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, ARB) - des années d’espoir et de persévérance qui se sont heurtées à des retards systémiques, au harcèlement et à l’injustice. Pendant plus d’une décennie et demie, les ARB ont été victimes d’intimidations et de harcèlements sévères, comme si on leur faisait miroiter des réalisations symboliques, alors que la raison d’être [des agences chargées de mettre en œuvre la réforme agraire] était de les aider. Ainsi, le véritable changement est resté hors de portée. Les programmes et les lois censés les protéger ont, au contraire, toujours favorisé les riches et les « puissants », perpétuant ainsi la souffrance de ceux que les réformes étaient censées améliorer.
Bien qu’ils soient les propriétaires légaux des terres agricoles attribuées, les ARB sont continuellement privés du droit d’exercer leur droit de propriété, de cultiver la terre en paix et de jouir des fruits de leur travail. Au lieu de cela, ils sont victimes de harcèlement, de violences sur leur personne et sur les membres de leur famille proche, d’intimidations, de poursuites sans fondement et de menaces, toutes destinées à les empêcher et à les contraindre à exercer leur droit de propriété. Les intimidations, les violences et les harcèlements qu’ils ont subis pendant plus d’une décennie et qu’ils subissent encore aujourd’hui sont le reflet d’un système partial à l’égard des personnes vulnérables, marginalisées et impuissantes, et qui privilégie les intérêts des puissants, des personnes bien informées et des nantis.
Même avec les décisions du bureau central du Département de la réforme agraire (DAR), en particulier la récente décision du 28 juin 2024, signée par l’actuel secrétaire du DAR, Conrado Estrella III, rejetant la demande d’ADM. A-9999-09-CLT-326-2021 déposée par l’ancien propriétaire avec préjudice et ordonnant l’installation immédiate des détenteurs d’EP - confirmant la revendication des ARB sur la terre, la situation reste injuste. L’ancien propriétaire continue de récolter des noix de coco sur des terres dont il n’est plus légalement propriétaire - des cultures plantées par les ARB, qui se voient toujours refuser le droit de cultiver leurs terres. Ce revirement de justice est un affront à l’esprit de la réforme agraire et un rappel brutal des inégalités systémiques auxquelles les agriculteurs sont confrontés aujourd’hui.
Le 15 janvier 2025, les ARB du SARBEFO, avec leurs collègues agriculteurs et les défenseurs des droits fonciers, ont courageusement occupé leurs terres pour affirmer pacifiquement leur revendication légitime, une fois de plus, en s’exposant à l’intimidation et au harcèlement. Cet acte souligne leur résilience et l’impératif moral de réclamer ce qui leur a été longtemps refusé.
Nous reconnaissons les immenses défis auxquels ils sont confrontés et qui doivent cesser immédiatement :
• La partialité systémique et le manque d’action décisive de la part des autorités locales, ainsi que le mépris total de l’ordre du DAR-Central, qui enhardissent ceux qui exploitent les vides juridiques pour garder le contrôle sur des terres qui ne sont plus les leurs.
• Le bilan émotionnel et économique d’une lutte prolongée par des intérêts particuliers et des retards juridiques, qui prive les agriculteurs de la possibilité de planter, de récolter et de subvenir aux besoins de leurs familles.
• Le silence des lois et des institutions qui n’agissent pas rapidement pour protéger les plus vulnérables.
Les 15 années de lutte des ARB sont un rappel douloureux de la persistance des inégalités systémiques qui privent les agriculteurs de l’accès à la terre censée leur apporter dignité et moyens de subsistance. Pourtant, leur courage et leur persévérance pendant des décennies de souffrance réaffirment le pouvoir de l’action collective.
Nous demandons expressément au département local de la réforme agraire de confirmer la décision du bureau central et de veiller à ce que les ARB soient enfin installés sur leurs terres.
Nous demandons instamment au Département de la réforme agraire et à toutes les autorités compétentes de prendre des mesures immédiates pour mettre fin à cette injustice. L’installation légitime des ARB doit être mise en œuvre sans délai supplémentaire. Leur sécurité doit être une priorité et les personnes responsables de harcèlement et d’exploitation doivent répondre de leurs actes. Les programmes et les politiques doivent cesser de favoriser les riches aux dépens des agriculteurs marginalisés.
Enfin, nous appelons le président « BongBong » Marcos Jr. à agir de manière décisive et à faire de la réforme agraire la pierre angulaire des engagements de son administration, afin d’honorer la mémoire de son défunt père et auteur du PD 27. C’est l’occasion de faire preuve d’un véritable leadership et de se tenir aux côtés des agriculteurs qui comptent sur sa promesse de justice et d’équité.
Par-dessus tout, cette lutte ne concerne pas seulement la terre, mais aussi la vie, la justice sociale et la dignité des agriculteurs qui travaillent dur pour nourrir la nation. Il s’agit également de veiller à ce que les terres attribuées aux agriculteurs après des décennies de plaidoyer ne soient pas vidées de leur sens par des préjugés systémiques et par l’exploitation due à l’indécision des pouvoirs en place.
En toute solidarité,
[1] Kahugpongan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Zamboanga del Sur (KAMAGMASUR),
[2] Convergence of Zamboanga Del Sur On Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (Convergence de Zamboanga del Sur sur la réforme agraire et le développement rural) (CONZARRD),
[3] Kahugpongan sa Mag-uuma ug Mamumuong Kababayen-an sa Zambo. Sur (KASAMMAKA),
[4] Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA),
[5] Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan - Lanao (KILOS KA - Lanao),
[6] Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP), Cotabato City,
[7] Alliance of the Tri-People for the Advancement of Human Rights (ALTAHR), Cotabato City,
[8] Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA), Inc, Iligan City,
[9] Interfaith Movement for Peace (IMovePeace), région de Caraga,
[10] Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (Alliance philippine des défenseurs des droits de l’homme) (PAHRA), Quezon City
[11] Partido Manggagawa
[12] LABAN Kababaihan
(13) ESSF
the statement in English: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1034341398726475&id=100064518740206&mibextid=Nif5oz
Comments
Post a Comment