BMFI

Dec. 20 update:
Meeting with the Bishops

This morning, accompanied by the support groups, the farmers walked from DAR to Paco Catholic School around 4:40 am to meet with Cardinal Rosales and other bishops. They arrived in Paco around 7:30 am.

While waiting for Cardinal Rosales, the farmers were served breakfast. Thereafter, a short program followed. Bro. Javier, Samuel Merida Jr., Linda Ligmon, and Atty. Marlon were invited to speak and gave an update on the case. They also shared how the farmers felt with the order of the Office of the President, and their plans.

Around 9:30 am, Cardinal Rosales, together with Bishop Ledesma, Bishop Antioko, Bishop Enriquez, Bishop Claver, Auxiliary Bishop Cortez, and other bishops celebrated a mass for the Sumilao farmers. Some priests were also present -- Fr. Danny Wang, SJ, Fr. Anton Pascual, Fr. Hino, and Fr. Bartome.

Cardinal Rosales expressed the continued support of the church to the farmers' cause in all aspects. He also said that he will go back to Sumilao to celebrate mass with their families.

After the mass, the Bishops had a dialogue with the farmers. A press conference followed.

The farmers are now at the Concordia College, Sta. Ana, Manila where they shall stay for the night. Students from various schools visited the farmers there.

Meanwhile, some of the farmers in Sumilao are preparing for their caroling with RD John Maruhom this afternoon. They are expecting that Dir. Maruhom will find the political will to issue a Notice of Coverage because in their previous dialogues, Maruhom promised that he will issue a notice of coverage once the land will be reverted back to agricultural use.

19 December

Yesterday (Dec. 19), the Sumilao marchers went back to their encampment at the DAR Central Office. They walked as early as 6 am from the Holy Spirit College and arrived at DAR around 9 am.

They were not very happy of the decision of the Office of the President revoking the conversion order of then Executive Secretary Ruben Torres thereby reverting back the 144 hectares of land to agricultural use. Thus, they are planning to stay in Manila until a cease and desist order and notice of coverage shall be issued.

Meanwhile, some leaders of the farmers in Sumilao went to Fr. Danny Paciente (Parish Priest of Sumilao) and Bishop Pacana to update them of the decision of the Office of the President and its implications. The farmers asked Bishop Pacana if he could help in asking the DAR and President Arroyo to issue a notice of coverage to which Bishop Pacana readily agreed. Bishop Pacana also gave two sacks of rice for the families of the Sumilao farmers.

Sixteen farmers also went to Cagayan de Oro City to have a caroling at the DAR during its Christmas Party. DAR RD John Maruhom, however, asked the farmers to come back the next day. Dir. Maruhom promised that he will talk to the farmers at 3 pm today (Dec. 20).

Read also: Church revives body to look into land reform cases (Inquirer)