BMFI

Jan. 10 update:
Head of Church Task Force on Sumilao disappointed in dialogue with PGMA

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Bishop Broderick Pabillo, head of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA), and Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma were disappointed when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that she cannot issue a cease and desist order because she still has to refer the case of the Sumilao farmers to Presidential Legal Adviser Sergio Apostol.

"I am disappointed of the Office of the President because no CDO (cease and desist order) was issued, and that the order of the President was not personally delivered despite the promise of Secretary Bunye that he will personally deliver the copy of the order to SMFI," said Bishop Pabillo.

This announcement came after Bishop Pabillo and Bishop Ledesma talked with President Arroyo in a breakfast meeting at Koresco Hotel here. The meeting was timely as President Arroyo was in the city to attend the inauguration of the Laguindingan Airport in the province of Misamis Oriental.

The lawyers and support groups of the Sumilao farmers also expressed the same disappointment. "President Arroyo's pronouncement is very disheartening. It seems to me that she failed to appreciate the urgency of resolving the case of the Sumilao farmers," said Atty. Arlene Bag-ao, lawyer of the Sumilao farmers.

She added that GMA should have immediately issued a cease and desist order because the on-going construction of SMFI defies the conversion order of the OP. She also said that the SMFI's hog farm is not an agricultural undertaking, contrary to what it says, and that its presence in the 144-hectare landholding has no legal basis.

Local police prevented the farmers to enter Koresco Hotel

Meanwhile, the farmers were not allowed to enter the gates of Koresco Hotel by the local police. Thus, they just lined up on the national highway while waiting for President Arroyo to come out of the hotel.

Moreover, their streamers were confiscated by the police because according to them, they want to "prevent" them from showing their streamers to the President.

"I do not understand why members of the police confiscated our streamers when our purpose is only to express our sentiment to the President for her to issue a cease and desist order, and for the DAR to issue a notice of coverage," said Rene Penas, paralegal officer of the Sumilao farmers.

Before their talk with President Arroyo, Bishops Pabillo and Ledesma conferred with the Sumilao farmers at the Bishop’s House in Cagayan de Oro City.

Bishop Pabillo was in the City to visit the farmers who are camping outside the regional office of the Department of Reform (DAR) to protest its refusal to issue a notice of coverage (NOC) and cease and desist order (CDO).

He is also scheduled to visit the families of the Sumilao farmers in barangay San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon as part of the church's commitment in helping them monitor their case, and ensure that justice will be delivered to them as soon as possible.

Three Bishops and Priests celebrated mass with the Sumilao Farmers

After their conference with President Arroyo, Bishops Pabillo and Ledesma proceeded to the DAR regional office, Macanhan, Cagayan de Oro City to celebrate mass with the farmers.

The mass was attended by nuns, students, civil society organizations, and DAR employees.

Bishop Pacana, Archbishop of Malaybalay City, came all the way from Malaybalay City to concelebrate in the mass.

After the mass, Bishop Pabillo explained to the farmers the result of their meeting with President Arroyo that she still has to refer the case to Secretary Apostol and study the case further before she will issue the cease and desist order.

Bishop Pabillo committed that he will personally follow-up the results of the study to be made by Secretary Apostol.

Today marks the 23rd day after the Office of the President (OP) revoked the conversion order, which reverted back the 144 hectares of land in Sumilao to agricultural land.

The refusal of the Office of the President and Department of Agrarian Reform to issue a cease and desist order (CDO) and notice of coverage (NOC) forced the Sumilao farmers to camp outside the regional office of DAR to pressure said office to issue said NOC and CDO.

Dialogue with Governor Jose Maria Zubiri and the Bishops

Right after the mass at the DAR Regional Office, Bishops Pabillo and Ledesma, support groups and 30 farmer representatives went straight to the office of the governor of Bukidnon in Malaybalay City for a dialogue.

Bishops Pabillo and Ledesma will visit the Sumilao farmers tonight in their homes after the dialogue with Governor Zubiri. The bishops intend to stay at a farmer’s home tonight.