AMIN REPS VOTE FOR CARPER, CONDEMN KILLING OF FARMER LEADER

            The CARP Extension with Reform Law was finally passed on third and final reading in the House of Representatives on June 5, 2009 with 211 members voting in favor of the law, including Anak Mindanao party list Representatives Mujiv Hataman and Ariel Hernandez.

            In his explanation of vote, Rep. Hataman stated that “Anak Mindanao Party-List had been supporting the advocacy and campaign for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) with the needed reforms for the benefit of our landless peasants and their families, to achieve the mandate of the constitution for the government to undertake an agrarian reform program founded on the right of farmers and regular farm workers who are landless, to own directly or collectively the lands they till."

            Hataman said that in Mindanao alone, there are still roughly 250,000 hectares of agricultural lands waiting to be distributed to qualified farmer-beneficiaries.

            Hataman said that the passage of CARPER is highly attributed to the sacrifices made by the farmers, the church and civil society in pushing for the said law. “If it were not for the efforts and struggle of these people, the House would not have been pressured to pass the law. But this must not end here. The CARPER is not a perfect law, and we are further challenged by the question of how it will be implemented. We must continue to be vigilant in issues of agrarian reform,” he said.

            He further proposed for the strengthening of the oversight function of Congress to ensure full implementation of CARPER and that farmer-beneficiaries truly harvest the gains of the approved law.

Rep. Ariel Hernandez, who is a known Mindanao agrarian reform advocate before his recent proclamation as party list representative in Congress, expressed his elation over the passage of the law. “I am extremely grateful and humbled by this opportunity to be part of the passage of CARPER. I have personally been involved in the struggle of our farmers, particularly the MAPALAD farmers and now as a legislator I was given the chance to be instrumental in enacting the law,” he said.

Hernandez said that the extended and reformed CARP contains revisions which, when effectively implemented will be advantageous to farmers, farm workers and their families and will fulfill the expected benefits of agrarian reform and eventually end poverty in the countryside. 

            Meanwhile, amidst the jubilation over the passage of CARP, local authorities and media reported the killing of Rene Penas, one of the leaders of the MAPALAD farmers in Bukidnon. Mr. Penas was allegedly ambushed near his farm in Brgy. San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon last night, June 5, 2009.

            As this developed, both Hataman and Hernandez issued their call for the strongest form of condemnation against the cowardly act committed against Penas, and a thorough and immediate investigation and resolution to the case.

            “Police should investigate this killing expeditiously. If the killing is related to the leaders’ advocacy in agrarian reform, let the court of justice act without hesitation to bring the perpetrators to jail,” Hernandez strongly urged.

            Hernandez added that, “Rene may not witness the fruits of the extension of CARP, but definitely his passion for agrarian reform will be emulated by thousand more leaders in the countryside.”