BMFI

March 4 update:
MARTSA Sumilao: Farmers meets with Cardinal Rosales

The Holy Spirit Sisters visited the Sumilao farmers yesterday and gave them food for dinner.

At 8 a.m. today, they walked from CARITAS to Arzobispado in Intramuros, Manila to meet with Cardinal Rosales. They were escorted by policemen while on their way to the Arzobispado.

Around 10 a.m., six Sumilao farmers (Napoleon Merida Jr. [Yoyong], Peter Tuminhay, Samuel Merida, Hilda San-ahan, Elgine Merida, and Linda Ligmon) had a closed door dialogue with Cardinal Rosales. They gave Cardinal Rosales a briefer of the status of their struggle, list of potential beneficiaries, and the BARC Certification (containing the list of qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries, and certificate of residence of the Sumilao farmers), which were prepared with the help of their legal team.

Before the dialogue, however, some of the Sumilao farmers were interviewed by the media. Thereafter, they had a lunch with Cardinal Rosales, together with the other support groups. At 1 p.m., they started to prepare to return to CARITAS. Cardinal Rosales gave his blessing to the Sumilao farmers and reminded them to remain strong in their faith. The policemen once again escorted them on their way back to CARITAS.

They are currently having a meeting for a planned mobilization tomorrow.