CARPER Muna, Hindi ChaCha Rally and Dispersal, 25 May 2009

Photos: Reggie Aquino and Dondie Tawatao         

The farmers from Sumilao, Banasi and Calatagan, together with some members of the Catholic Church including Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, and at least 10 religious sisters from the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP), vowed to intensify their campaign for the enactment of House Bill 4077 (CARP Extension with Reforms) despite the humiliating and abusive acts of Speaker Prospero Nograles in indiscriminately firing water against the rallyist at the gates of the Batasan Complex yesterday.  Bishop Pabillo, who was at the rally and who was himself sprayed with water by the security groups of Congress, lamented the Speaker saying, “Na-dismaya ako.  Instead na pag-usapan ang CARPER ay hindi pa rin na-agenda sa Kongreso.  Kahit i-meet lang sana ni Speaker Nograles ang mga magsasaka ng gustong pumasok sa Kongreso para bantayan ang CARPER Bill.  Pero walang nangyari.”

          Prior to the mobilization in Congress, Bishop Pabillo celebrated a mass at the St. Peter’s Church before a large crowd consisting of different farmer groups and federations such as PAKISAMA, PKSK, PKKK, PARAGOS, TFM, UNORKA and MAKABAYAN, agrarian reform advocates, and other multi-sectoral groups belonging from the labor, youth, women and urban poor sector.  After the mass, the participants marched towards the Batasan Complex to air out their dismay on the slow-placed movement of the Congress regarding the deliberations of the CARPER Bill despite the several promises of Speaker Nograles to speed up its enactment

          Upon reaching the gates of the Batasan Complex, the farmers started to set-up camps on the left and right wing of the Batasan south gate, and attempted to enter the gates in order to observe deliberations on the CARPER Bill.  However, the farmers and the Church leaders were surprised to see that the security groups, on order of Speaker Nograles himself, rudely demolished their make-shift camps.  Further, the farmers and the Church leaders were deliberately singled out from entering the gates of the Batasan Complex thereby forbidding them from monitoring Congressional affairs.  The farmers instead held a short rally before the gates to express their rage and resentment against their prohibition from entering the halls of Congress.  Bishop Pabillo attempted to negotiate with the security groups saying that the deliberation in Congress is public in nature and that the farmers have a right to witness the acts of the solons inside the halls of the House of Representatives especially that it concerns their welfare.  The Bishop also tried to contact Speaker Nograles to allow them to enter the gates. 

However, Speaker Nograles did not show up, and instead, ordered the security group to bring the fire truck and spray water against the rallyist.  The farmers were sprayed water to keep them away from the gates of Congress.  Even Bishop Pabillo and the other priests, and some members of the religious sisters of AMRSP, were not spared from the spraying of water.  Not contented, Speaker Nograles was reportedly heard saying “Bad taste at turn-off ang nangyayari sa labas.  Hindi naman makakuha ng votes ang rally.  Bawal nga mag-kampo sa harap ng House.  Ginagawa nilang basurahan at CR ang House!”

Outraged by the crude and uncivilized acts of Speaker Nograles, Sumilao farmer Rene Penas said “Ayaw ninyo kaming papasukin sa loob, ayaw din ninyo kami sa labas!  Sobrang kabastusan na ang ginagawa ninyo sa mga magsasaka!”  Mally Gargar of Balaod Mindanaw and the Reform CARP Movement (RCM) coalition said that the farmers have long been waiting for the enactment of the CARPER Bill but until now Congress refused to even deliberate House Bill 4077 despite the fact that it is already certified as a priority bill.  The CARPER Bill was not even put in the agenda for deliberations, and instead, non-priority bills were deliberated.  Currently, farmers are prohibited from witnessing or even entering the gates of the Congress. 

Sumilao farmer Yoyong Merida said that the farmers are unabated by the delaying tactics of Congress and vowed to continue their fight for the enactment of the CARPER Bill.  Today, the farmers from Sumilao, Banasi and Calatagan will hold a “stake-out” at the gates of Congress to demand the immediate enactment of the bill.  “Hindi kami aalis ditto hanggang mapag-usapan ang House Bill 4077 sa Kongreso.  Patuloy kaming magbabantay sa Kongreso sa kabila ng mga pangbababoy na ginawa nila sa amin.  Kasama naming ang mga libo-libong magsasaka at ang simbahana sa pakikibakang ito,”  he said.