Lakbayan 2010 posted Jan 18

Lakbayan 2010:

CARRAGA region and Central Luzon

Posted January 18, 2010

■ Launching of Lakbayan 2010 in Mindanao, January 12, 2010


KMP Secretary General Danilo Ramos, left, and Rep. Rafael Mariano, center, address peasant marchers in Carraga and Tarlac, respectively

Photos courtesy of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Anakapwis partylist

Lakbayan - CARAGA region, Mindanao







MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL LAKBAYAN IN THE PHILIPPINES By Prof. Jose Maria Sison Chairperson International League of Peoples' Struggle January 17, 2010 We of the International League of Peoples' Struggle are in firm solidarity with Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) in the carrying out of the National Lakbayan (caravan and long march) for Land and Justice from the southern and northern regions of the Philippines to the national capital in ten days, from January 12 to 22. We applaud and congratulate you for resolutely and militantly organizing this unique mass undertaking which traverses more than 1000 kilometers. We are elated that this mass mobilization has started from the south in Davao City on January 12 and from the north in Tarlac city on January 16. We strongly support the broad masses of the people, especially the peasants, farm workers and fisherfolk, who are involved in this historic event. We eagerly await the convergence of the caravans and long marchers in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform on January 21 and the march to Mendiola, near the presidential palace, on January 22. We agree with all your objectives. It is just to demand genuine land reform and the free distribution of land to the tillers as the solution to the land problem. Land reform must be realized on the strength of the peasant movement and for the purpose of attaining the economic, social and political liberation of the peasant masses. It must not be limited to the confines of reactionary legislation. The so-called Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) is essentially intended to dampen the peasant demand for land and preserve the feudal and semifeudal forms of exploitation. As in previous bogus land reform programs, CARPER retains the same loopholes and tricks for the landlords to prevent or evade land reform. It is necessary to bring to national and international attention the local struggles for land and take up the most outstanding cases of land accumulation and landgrabbing at the expense of the peasants and the farm workers. The people want to know more about the land greed, rapacity and brutality of certain landlord families that dominate the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system. Two major presidential candidates, Benigno Conjuangco-Aquino III and Gilberto Cojuangco-Teodoro belong to the same big comprador-landlord clan which owns vast haciendas in Tarlac, Pangasinan, Isabela, Negros, Caraga, Palawan and elsewhere in the country. The land question must be in the agenda of the current electoral struggle. The progressive parties and candidates who espouse land reform deserve support. It is necessary to expose, oppose and frustrate the escalating militarization of the countryside under the Oplan Bantay Laya of the US-Arroyo regime. The gross and systematic human rights violations perpetrated by the regime are instigated and provided with logistics by US imperialism, especially under its policy of global war of terrorism. The official military, police and paramilitary forces collaborate with the private armies and gangs of foreign monopoly enterprises, the big compradors and landlords. In their struggle against the imperialists and the local reactionaries, the toiling masses of workers and peasants must engage the active support of the middle social strata and middle forces of Philippine society. It is necessary to heighten the unity of the broad masses of the people and intensify their militant struggle against the rotten ruling system and the rapidly worsening socio-economic and political crisis. We the International League of Peoples' Struggle support the broad masses of the Filipino people in their struggle for national independence and empowerment of the toiling masses, development through national industrialization and land reform, social justice, a national, scientific and mass culture and international solidarity against imperialism and war. We are determined to coordinate the anti-imperialist and democratic struggles of the Filipino people with those of all other peoples of the world in order to help raise to a new and higher level the struggle of humankind for greater freedom, democracy, all-round development, social justice and world peace.### 1













			January 16, 2010...7:57 am Lakbayan marchers hurdle PNP checkpoints By Roy Morilla in Sorsogon City and Trinity Biglang Awa in Manila Organizers of the 10-day Pambansang Lakbayan ng Anakpawis Para Sa Lupa at Katarungan on Saturday said the 170 marching farmers from Mindanao, Panay and Negros islands, Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas have been subjected to series of police checkpoints just to pass towns and municipalities on their way to the National Capital Region. In text messages sent to Manila, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) secretary general Danilo Ramos said since day one of the Lakbayan, which officially kicked off in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City, the peasant caravan and march frequently encountered checkpoints, and their vehicles were searched and checked by firearms carrying policemen and government troops as if the farmers are carrying high power rifles and explosives with them. “The checkpoints are practically everywhere, as if this government is gearing for another all-out war and not for the May 2010 elections,” the KMP leader added. According to Ramos, the Lakbayan caravan and march hurdled checkpoints from Davao City to Butuan City and Surigao City, and from Surigao City to Liloan and Tacloban City in Leyte, and in Calbayog, Catbalogan and Catarman in Samar island before they reached the port in Allen, Northern Samar. Last night, the PNP Sorsogon stopped the caravan from reaching the city. A negotiation was held between the police authorities and leaders of Lakbayan headed by Anakpawis party list Rep. Joel Maglunsod. After 20 minutes of negotiation, the Lakbayan was finally allowed to proceed in Sorsogon City past 8:00 last night. This morning, the Lakbayan was stopped by policemen manning the PNP checkpoint in Castilla, Sorsogon, but through the intercession of Rep. Maglunsod and the insistence of caravan and march organizers, the marching peasants were allowed to proceed to Daraga and Legaspi City. The incident happened between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. However, in Barangay Bascaran, Daraga, Albay, 11 caravan vehicles were stopped by military and police checkpoint. As of press time, negotiations are ongoing between the police officials and Lakbayan organizers. Anakpawis Rep. Maglunsod said the 10-day Lakbayan was announced a week ahead of the schedule and the police and the military were all informed about the legal and legitimate activity of the farmers. “This long running nightmare of checkpoints, harassment and not so intelligence gathering adventures of the PNP and the AFP have been the usual staples of the Arroyo government to frustrate the people’s assertion of their rights,” the militant lawmaker observed. Rep. Maglunsod said the organizers are expecting more of the same when they reach Tagkawayan, Quezon by 10:00 am tomorrow. In a related development, the KMP, the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and Anakpawis party list said the Comelec decision exempting Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs) from gun and perform checkpoint functions is extremely dangerous. “The Comelec decision exempting CAFGUs from the total gun ban is a major political, legal and moral blunder. The poll body merely puts a legal blanket to the killing spree and human rights violation activities of these paramilitary units, which they perform in accordance with the cruel intention and sinister agenda of the sitting presidency in Malacanang, the pro-Arroyo military clique and their warlord allies,” the groups said in their statement. They said the Comelec should disband these paramilitary groups due to their long-running violations of human rights at any given period. “The best way to address the issue is to call for the immediate and unconditional disbandment of CAFGUs, period, period, period,” the groups said. “Please allow us to reiterate the record straight–57 people were massacred by CAFGU forces in Maguindanao last year. Is that a joke or a remote incident to Comelec? Where is their sense of human rights, justice and political sensibility?” Anakpawis secretary general Cherry Clemente added. Comelec commissioner Lucenito Tagle yesterday said the CAAs are allowed to carry firearms because they are considered units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which are exempted from the nationwide gun ban imposed by the poll body during election period. Organizers of Pambansang Lakbayan ng Anakpawis Para sa Lupa at Katarungan said aside from land and justice and concrete issues and struggles on agrarian reform, the grueling 10-day long caravan and long march from different parts of Mindanao, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Panay, Negros, Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Ilocos, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley regions to the National Capital Region will also call for the dismantling of CAFGU units across the country. Under Comelec resolution 8742 made effective last January 11, amending Resolution 8714, the CAFGU was exempted from gun ban along with members of the Presidential Security Group, Bureau of Fire Protection, Optical Media Board, the treasurers and deputy treasurers and members of the Internal Security Division of the Bureau of Treasury. Prior to Comelec promulgation of Resolution 8714, Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao opposed the disarming of CAAs because these paramilitary groups are tapped by fishing companies to secure their venture in the South. For his part, Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, chief of Western Command said as far as the military is concerned, the CAFGUs are part of the military organization and not all CAFGUs are utilized by private companies operating in far flung areas. PNP, Army checkpoints delay farmers’ protest caravan - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos











January 14, 2010 Manila bound marching farmers slam poll body’s ok for CAFGU to carry arms in May 2010 elections By Roy Morilla, Lakbayan pointperson in Mindanao and Gerry Albert Corpuz, senior reporter, The Pamalakaya Times Davao City, Philippines-Organizers of the 10-day Pambansang Lakbayan ng Anakpawis Para sa Lupa at Katarungan on Wednesday assailed the decision of the Commission on Election (Comelec) exempting the Civilian Active Auxiliaries (CAA) from the total gun ban. In a joint press statement, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and Anakpawis party list said the Comelec decision is extremely dangerous, politically incorrect and fatally flawed, asserting that these CAAs formerly known as Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs) are commissioned as private armies and armed goons by warlord politicians all over the country. “The Comelec decision exempting CAFGUs from the total gun ban is a major political, legal and moral blunder. The poll body merely puts a legal blanket to the killing spree and human rights violation activities of these paramilitary units, which they perform in accordance with the cruel intention and sinister agenda of the sitting presidency in Malacanang, the pro-Arroyo military clique and their warlord allies,” the groups said in their statement. KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said the correct treatment of Comelec in dealing with CAFGUs is to officially disband these paramilitary groups due to their long-running violations of human rights at any given period. “The best way to address the issue is to call for the immediate and unconditional disbandment of CAFGUs, period, period, period,” the KMP official said. For her part, Anakpawis secretary general Cherry Clemente said the tragic lessons drawn from the Nov.23 Maguindanao massacre last year should have compelled poll officials to direct the AFP to permanently dismantle all existing CAFGUs and quit from hiring fresh recruits to avoid if not minimize election related violence. “Please allow us to reiterate the record straight–57 people were massacred by special CAA forces in Maguindanao last year. Is that a joke or a remote incident to Comelec? Where is their sense of human rights, justice and political sensibility?” Clemente added. Comelec commissioner Lucenito Tagle yesterday said the CAAs are allowed to carry firearms because they are considered units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which are exempted from the nationwide gun ban imposed by the poll body during election period. Organizers of Pambansang Lakbayan ng Anakpawis Para sa Lupa at Katarungan said aside from land and justice and concrete issues and struggles on agrarian reform, the grueling 10-day long caravan and long march from different parts of Mindanao, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Panay, Negros, Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Ilocos, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley regions to the National Capital Region will also call for the dismantling of CAFGU units across the country. Under Comelec resolution 8742 made effective last January 11, amending Resolution 8714, the CAFGU was exempted from gun ban along with members of the Presidential Security Group, Bureau of Fire Protection, Optical Media Board, the treasurers and deputy treasurers and members of the Internal Security Division of the Bureau of Treasury. Prior to Comelec promulgation of Resolution 8714, Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao opposed the disarming of CAAs because these paramilitary groups are tapped by fishing companies to secure their venture in the South. For his part, Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, chief of Western Command said as far as the military is concerned, the CAFGUs are part of the military organization and not all CAFGUs are utilized by private companies operating in far flung areas. As of press time, organizers said 50 peasant and fisherfolk activists belonging to KMP, Pamalakaya and Anakpawis party list from Mindanao island will embark on their way to Liloan, Leyte, while the Visayan leg of the 10-day Lakbayan composed of 100 farmers and fishermen will start in Cebu before the caravan and march proceed to Calbayog City in Samar island. From Samar, the joint contingent will proceed to Bicol on their way to Southern Tagalog and National Capital Region. The marchers are expected to cross Muntinlupa City on Jan.20 and will stage another long march on Jan.22 to Don Chino Roces in Manila on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of Mendiola massacre.








			www.anakbayanhq.multiply.com anakbayanphils@gmail.com PRESS RELEASE Reference Person: January 14, 2010 KEN RAMOS, National Chairperson 0921.5129678 As the Nationwide Peasant March nears Metro Manila, Youth join calls for genuine agrarian reform Youth groups ANAKBAYAN and KABATAAN Partylist staged a picket in Philcoa, Quezon City today to call for the immediate implementation of a genuine agrarian reform program and land distribution to farmers throughout the country. According to the youth groups, this action is their contribution to the nationwide peasant march for land and justice which started last Tuesday in Mindanao. “The blood and sweat of the peasants as they march thousands of kilometers from the farmlands into Metro Manila will be greeted by the youth with fervor and much support,” said ANAKBAYAN National Chairperson Ken Ramos. The youth brought placards containing the same call in different dialects such as 'Duta para sa Mangunguma, ipakigbato!' and 'Daga para dagiti mannalon, ipaglaban!' “The land is our land. The farmers' demands are also our demands. Saanman bahagi ng bansa, pare-pareho ang kailangan ng mamamayan. Lupa para sa magsasaka, ipaglaban,” Ramos added. Genuine agrarian, key to stopping hunger “The impact of landlessness and the problems faced by our farmers are being felt sharply every day as more and more Filipinos go hungry. The severity of poverty has reached the point that Filipinos have lowered their standards of living beyond human reason,” Ramos said. He referred to the latest SWS survey that pointed to 1 in every 4 Filipino families as being hungry for the past year. The same survey also showed that Filipino families no longer consider themselves poor if they have P400 daily for all their expenditures, despite the high prices of commodities. “It is ironic for an agricultural country such as ours to have citizens who barely have enough to eat. We import sugar, rice and other staple food products when we are very much capable of producing them on our own,” said Ramos. “A few years back, we experienced a rice shortage. Now, there are speculations of a sugar shortage. These shortages will continue as long as the land remain monopolized by a few families and exportation of our raw materials is prioritized over satisfying the people's needs,” Ramos explained. The government should instead redirect its resources to genuine land reform and increasing production for local consumption. “Fears of shortage and price hikes reflect the backward state of our agriculture sector and a flawed agrarian reform program in the past years,” Ramos said. “In order to stop the cycle of price increases, we should weed out the problem at its roots,” Ramos said. “In the long run, genuine agrarian reform hinged on land distribution, modernization of agriculture, and collective farming is the solution to the recurrent problem of supply shortages and price increases.” ANAKBAYAN together with KABATAAN Partylist vowed to welcome the farmers when they enter Metro Manila on January 20. The contingent will then march to Mendiola on January 22 to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Mendiola massacre. ###

==

Lakbayan - Central Luzon

January 12, 2010 Luisita workers say Noynoy a hopeless case By Jayjay Jaiho and Bb. Joyce Cabral Manila, Philippines- “While Liberal Party presidential standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is no longer a hopeless romantic as far as the affairs of the heart are concerned, he is a hopeless case as far as striking workers of Hacienda Luisita workers are concerned,” according to leaders of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and Anakpawis party list. In a joint press statement, KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos, UMA spokesperson Lito Bais and Anakpawis secretary general Cherry Clemente said the refusal of Sen. Aquino to recognize the rights of striking farmworkers and his rejection of the legitimate, lawful and morally upright demand for immediate and unconditional free distribution of the 6,453-hectare sugar estate to more than 8,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries betrayed the collective interest of the Filipino farmers all over the country. “Noynoy will not give up their immoral claim and blood tainted control of Hacienda Luisita,” the militant leaders said. The militant groups said the agenda calling for free distribution of Hacienda Luisita to farmworkers and other agrarian reform beneficiaries will be posed to other presidential candidates in the May 2010 elections that include Manuel Villar of Nacionalista Party, the closest rival of Aquino according to various surveys conducted by independent poll groups. “The issues concerning Hacienda Luisita like the revocation of Stock Distribution Option, the immediate and free distribution of the 6,453-hectare sugar estate to land reform beneficiaries and the quest for justice for victims of the massacre on Nov.16, 2004 will be included in the peasant electoral agenda for 2010,” the groups said. They said the family of Sen. Aquino failed to address and improve the lives of Luisita workers over the last three to four decades. According to them, daily take home pay of every farm worker in Hacienda Luisita is P 9.50, which is not even enough to buy a half kilo of NFA rice. Bais, the UMA spokesperson and acting president of the hacienda based United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) today announced that Hacienda Luisita will serve as a launching pad of Lakbayan ng Anakpawis Para sa Lupa at Katarungan which will officially start on January 16 in Northern Philippines. The Lakbayan will gather marching farmers from Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon regions on their way to National Capital Region on the occasion of the 23rd year anniversary of Mendiola Massacre. Bais said on January 16, thousands of farmers and farmworkers from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Isabela and Cagayan will mass up in Hacienda Luisita Park to signal the 7-day Lakbayan from Northern Luzon to NCR. The UMA spokesman said farmers will then hold a caravan from Tarlac City to Angeles City and San Fernando City in Pampanga and will stage a vigil near Pampanga’s provincial capitol. From the capitol, farmers will stage a long march on their way to Malolos, Bulacan. They are expected to reach Monumento in Caloocan City on the afternoon of January 20, according to caravan and long march organizers. Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) secretary general Joseph Canlas said aside from Hacienda Luisita, Central Luzon peasants will also expose and oppose the continuing landgrabbing activities by big landlords and the military in San Miguel, Bulacan and Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Laur, Nueva Ecija. Canlas said farmers in Hacienda Sta. Isabel and Hacienda San Antonio in Isabela will also join the caravan and long march to press for the immediate distribution of big landholdings to landless farmers in the province. In the South, Lakbayan organizers led by KMP and Anakpawis party list said around 750 farmers, fisherfolk, peasant women, agricultural workers and indigenous people from 10 regions in Mindanao, Panay, Negros, the Visayas and Bicol are expected to reach Lucena City by January 17, where they are expected to hold a solidarity vigil, which the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan- Southern Tagalog chapter (Bayan-ST) will host and sponsor. Kasama-TK and Bayan- ST representing over 1,000 mobilization from the region will later join the marchers on their way to the National Capital region. “This is history in the making”, organizers added. “Land monopoly in the country has further aggravated and intensified the exploitation of our farmers. Imagine, because of landlessness, they are perennially subjected to pay 50 percent, or 1/3 or 1/4 of their gross harvest as land rent. But only 19 to 21 percent of the total produce goes to farmers. This sorry state of agrarian reform in the country will be vividly depicted during the 10-day farmers’ march from all over the country,” they said. Organizers said the Lakbayan will also engage in mobile dissemination and propaganda campaign about the sorry condition of farm workers all over the country. She said daily income of rice farmers for the entire cropping season ranges from P 23 to P 40 per day. On the other hand, KMP’s Ramos said in defense of their rights to land in pursuit of social justice, farmers are perpetually subjected to various forms of human rights violations, militarization and repression. Latest data from Karapatan human rights group revealed that 561 farmers were victims of extrajudicial killings, 119 of them were leaders and members of KMP, while scores of internally displaced peasants due to all-out war, militarization and massacre; and cases of abducted farmers and falsely charged rural activists continue to flood the monitoring bulletins of human rights groups and the concerned public. #













			January 16, 2010 Luisita workers urge Congress to re-open massacre case, agrarian dispute By Jayjay Jaiho and Akihira Tatchu Tarlac City, Philippines- Striking farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita will join the 10-day Lakbayan ng Anakpawis Para sa Lupa at Katarungan to demand the re-opening of the Hacienda Luisita massacre case, including the current state of agrarian dispute in the 6,453-hectare sugar estate, which they said remains unresolved up to this day. In a press statement, the hacienda based United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) and the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) said they will submit an official letter addressed to the Senate and the House of Representatives requiring house leaders to re-open the still unresolved issues involving the Cojuangco-Aquino sugar estate, which was investigated by lawmakers in aid of legislation but failed to come up with a separate or joint committee report on the Nov.16, 2004 massacre that claimed 7 lives of farmworkers and injured more than 100 farm workers. “Forgive and forget is not our cup of tea. We will pursue our case in the name of land, truth and justice,” said Lito Bais, spokesperson and acting chair of UMA. The demand for the re-opening of Hacienda Luisita massacre and investigation on the current land reform status in the Cojuangco-Aquino estate by both chambers of Congress was supported by allied groups headed by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), Amihan peasant women federation and militant party list group Anakpawis. In a joint statement, the groups asked Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles to pursue the investigation of previous and present issues in Hacienda Luisita, including the encroachment of private groups occupying portions of the sugar estate like the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), which claimed some hectares of land representing foreclosed properties arising from Luisita management debts. “Is Hacienda Luisita for sale? But according to insiders and highly well placed source, the Cojuangco –Aquino clan is hiring dummies and using paid hacks to sow intrigues and terror in the hacienda,” they said. Bais said around 200 farmworkers in Hacienda Luisita will join the peasant caravan and long march from Tarlac to the National Capital Region, and they will converge with other farmers from Ilocos provinces, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela and provinces of Central Luzon—Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces on January 16 at Hacienda Luisita Park before the long march to Mendiola. “The case of the farm workers of hacienda Luisita is not different from other sad stories of farmers in the whole North and Central Luzon were farmers for years became the unwilling victims of unjust relation between landlords and peasants accompanied by anti-farmer program policies and projects of the government and the national security group in Malacanang”, said Joseph Canlas, chair of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon [AMGL]. The AMGL chair stressed that this caravan-march for land and justice is very important because it highlights the plight of the peasantry by showcasing the local issues in our region and addressing it as a national concern. Aside from hacienda Luisita, there’s also the issue of the Fort Magsaysay Military reservation were peasants are being thrown out on their farms by the military. Then there’s the landgrabbing case committed by Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Bicol in San Miguel, Bulacan and the displacement of Tungko Mangga farmers by the Araneta’s when MRT 7 will pushed through to their community. “There’s a clear and present danger upon the situation not only on the gravity of the people and institution that we’re going to deal with but also its counter actions. Since GMA assume the seat of power, peasants are on the upper deck victimized by extra judicial killings and persecutions to this date, 560 out of 1050 victims of extra judicial killings were leaders and members of peasant organizations whose only crime is to organized their ranks and fight for their rights”, added Canlas. “We’re going to start our caravan-march on January 17, after an overnight stay in Tarlac. From there, we’re going to San Fernando, Pampanga to meet with other peasant delegates and will march to the Department of Agrarian Reform region 3 to stage a protest action,” the AMGL official added. On January 18 the Lakbayan march will proceed to Malolos and will meet the Bulacan contingent and onward to Manila. More groups will join the peasant marchers as they reach the Bonifacio shrine in Balintawak on the 20th. The Lakbayan will then proceed to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) national office on the 21st of January where a cultural and solidarity night will be held. On January 22, the marchers will proceed to Manila coinciding with the 23rd year anniversary of Mendiola Massacre





MEDIA ADVISORY For January 18, 2010 As Senate resumes session Groups to raise farmers’ demands anew to Noynoy, colleagues KMU, Anakpawis to lead picket rally as Lakbayan contingents advance closer to Metro Manila \| January 18 (Monday) \| 1 p.m. in front of Senate building, Pasay, Manila Members of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno and Anakpawis Partylist will stage a picket outside the Senate to raise a range of agrarian issues, including the Hacienda Luisita case, to senators as session resumes. The picket rally will be held as contingents from various regions participating in the “Pambansang Lakbayan para sa Lupa at Katarungan” advance closer to Mendiola, the final destination of the 11-day caravan of farmers. Among the issues to be raised before the Senate are widespread land-grabbing, landlessness of peasants and the continuing human rights violations in the countryside by the military under the Oplan Bantay Laya program of the Arroyo regime. Reference: KMU Public Information Department (PID), 0919-416-3451

Lakbayan Daily Round Up From text updates from Roy, Gerry, Jim Prepared by Mao Day 6 January 17 As of 5 pm (Camarines Sur) 9:14 am – Lakbayanis start 6^th day of Farmers Caravan. On the way to Daet, Camarines Sur, expecting 6 military checkpoints (Tarlac) 9:34 am – Farmers caravan now leaving Hacienda Luisita (Camarines Sur) 10:53 am – Lakbayanis just reached Sipocot, Camarines Sur (Camarines Sur) 11:36 am – Lakbayanis arrive at Camarines Sur, heading to Daet, Camarines Norte (Pampanga) 11:42 am – Farmers caravan now at the former US Clark Airbase in Pampanga (Camarines Sur) – 12:21 pm Lakbayanis now at the boundary of Daet, 100 farmers welcome caravan. Total of 21 vehicles and 320 Lakbayanis (Camarines Sur) – 12:33 pm Lakbayanis stopped for lunch. Farmers from Hacienda Romualdez, Pamplona , Camarines Sur join the caravan (Camarines Sur) 1:45 pm – Lakbayanis holds rally at the Plaza in Daet (Pampanga) 2:51 pm – Lakbayanis just arrived at Plaza Miranda, Angeles City. Program ongoing (Pampanga) 3:18 pm – Almost 200 Lakbayanis from Hacienda Luisita and Pangasinan holds program at Angeles City. 100 more farmers from San Fernando, Pampanga to join the caravan (Batangas) 3:33 pm – Southern Luzon Lakbayan contingent heads to Lucena City to welcome Bicol-Visayas-Mindanao Lakbayanis (Batangas) 3:42 pm – Lakbayanis off to Lucena City with welcoming farmers at Calauag Quezon. Day 5 – January 16 Saturday 8:20 am - (Bicol) Lakbayanis off to Legazpi City, heavy rains failed to stop farmers' march for land and justice 9:31 am – (Bicol) Lakbayanis convoy passed through a PNP checkpoint in Castilla, Sorsogon manned by armalite-toting police and military. KMP’s Ka Daning Ramos and Rep. Joel Maglunsod negotiated. 9:58 am – (Bicol) Lakbayanis stopped in front of the house of KMP Deputy Sec. Gen. Willy Marbella in Daraga, Albay 10:20 am - (Bicol) Farmers' caravan stopped by military led by Lt. Abrero under AFP's 22nd Infantry Batallion in Bgy. Bascaran, Daraga in Albay. Vehicles are being checked one by one. 11:20 am - (Bicol) Lakbayanis and peasants rally in Daraga, Albay 12:02 pm - (Bicol) Lakbayanis and peasants rally in front of Camp Simeon Ola in Legaspi City 2:42 pm - (Bicol) Lakbayanis just arrived in Iriga, joined by more than 1T peasants from Camarines Sur 5:22 pm - (Bicol) Lakbayanis rallied in front of Camp Matillano in Pili town to denounce Oplan Bantay Laya 5:56 pm - (Tarlac) KMP's Antonio Flores declare the start of Lakbayan's North leg at Hacienda Luisita 6:29 pm - (Bicol) Lakbayanis holding torchn parade around Naga City 6:49 pm - (Tarlac) North Luzon contingent of farmers' caravan on their way to Bgy. Balete inside Hacienda Luisita for the solidarity night 7:12 pm - (Bicol) Lakbayanis and peasants are holding solidarity night at Naga City Freedom Park Day 4 – January 15 Friday 7: 50 am – (Samar) Lakbayanis on board 3 buses off to Catarman from Calbayog, Samar 10:06 am (Samar) Lakbayanis and peasants rally around Catarman 10:36 am (Samar) Lakbayanis taking off from Catarman to sail between Allen, Samar and Matnog, Sorsogon 11:00 am - Lakbayan Update – Total Lakbayan contingent – 92 from Central Visayas, 33 from Eastern Visayas, 4 from national organizations 12:19 pm – (Samar) Lakbayanis accosted an intelligence agent of MIG 8 and turned over to regional PNP 1:12 pm – (Samar) Lakbayanis boarding ship to Matnog, Sorsogon 1:58 pm – (Samar) Lakbayanis just boarded MV Penafrancia bound to Matnog amid high waves and strong winds 4:23 pm – (Sorsogon)Lakbayanis dock at Matnog, waiting to disembark 6:24 pm – (Sorsogon)Lakbayanis off to Sorsogon City. Total contingent – 16 jeeps, 1 truck 7:47 pm – (Sorsogon) Lakbayanis convoy stopped by PNP checkpoint before Sorsogon City. Rep. Joel Maglunsod negotiated. Caravan allowed to proceed. 8:13 pm - (Sorsogon) Lakbayanis reach Sorsogon City 9:11 pm - (Sorsogon) More than 500 Lakbayanis rally around Sorsogon City			Day 3 – January 14 Thursday 4:21 pm (Tacloban) – Lakbayan ongoing. Farmers rally at Dept. of Agrarian Reform regional office 4:25 pm (Tacloban) – Anti-riot police attempted to stop farmers’ protest. KMP Secretary General Ka Daning Ramos invited for a dialogue by DAR Region 8 Director 5:05 pm (Tacloban) – Lakbayanis just passed San Juanico Bridge 7:05 pm (Samar) – Lakbayanis reach Catbalogan, Samar 9:33 pm (Samar) – Lakbayanis subjected to military checkpoint at Calbayog by PNP elements armed with high-powered rifles and M60 machine gun 9:52 pm (Samar) Lakbayanis from Mindanao arrive at Calbayog, met with contingent from Visayas. Total of 135 Lakbayanis supported by 150 peasants from Samar ----------------------------------------- LAKBAYAN NG ANAKPAWIS PARA SA LUPA AT KATARUNGAN SHOUTOUT- season IV Share Today at 1:30pm KMP information officer Roy Morilla filed this report January 16 2:42 pm-Lakbayanis just arrived in Iriga, supported by 1,000 peasants. Heavy rains failed to stop the marching farmers 4.27pm- Lakbayanis heading towards Naga City for a torch parade for land and justice 5:23 pm- Lakbayanis staged a rally at Camp Matilano in Pili, Camarines Sur to denounce Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2 7:12 pm- Lakbayanis staged solidarity night at Naga City Freedom Park 8:25 pm- Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap led the discussion on national situation, the people's critique on Carper and the progressives' role in the May 2010 elections January 17 9:15 am- Lakbayan marchers proceeded to Daet, Camarines Norte, anticipating checkpoints of government troops and police 10:52am- Lakbayan folks reached Sipocot, Camarines Norte. Usually Lakbayans are held here by state troops to derail people's caravan and protest actions bound for Manila. 18 vehicles, 320 Lakbayanis 12:22 pm- no harassment so far, Lakbayan marchers reached Daet. 100 peasants met Lakbayanis. Had their quick lunch. Local officials also welcomed Lakbayanis headed by board members Romeo Marmol, Elpidio Tenorio, farmers from Hacienda Romualdez, Pamplona, Cam Norte donated fresh harvest vegetables to Lakbayanis in support of our peasant's mission for land and justice.
**

Home

► Send us your feedback ◄