Here is a Letter of Support from the Bishop of Bukidnon in solidarity with the Sumilao farmers. This letter is supported by 133 religious priests,nuns and brothers during their recent gathering last month.
Seiptember 20, 2007
Her Excellency
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President
Republic of the
Your Excellency: Peace!
I am writing to you to highly endorse the petition of the SUMILAO FARMERS (their letter to me enclosed) to reclaim their land covering a total of 144 hectares located in San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon. Here is the summary of their decade-long struggles.
Their struggles to reclaim their ancestral land dated back to year January 1990 when the DAR issued a Notice of Coverage over the 144 hectare of land owned by Norberto Quisumbing Sr. Instead of respecting the Rule of Law, the latter applied for land conversion from agricultural to non-agricultural classification. In 1994, DAR Secretary Ernesto Garilao denied the conversion and finally awarded the land to the SUMILAO FARMERS. But the Quisumbings brought the case to the Office of the President and the ruling was reversed by then Executive Secretary Ruben Torres, validating the conversion of land from agricultural to non-agricultural classification. The Sumilao Farmers brought the case to the Street of Quezon City, went on hunger strike for 28 days until President Ramos came up with a "Win-win Resolution". 100 hectares were awarded to the SUMILAO FARMERS and the 44 hectares to the Quisumbings. But that was not the end of it. The Quisumbings brought the case to the Supreme Court, which resulted to the reinstatement of the Torres Resolution and the invalidation of the Ramos Resolution. The year was 1999. Since then the land remains idle; no structural development as promised by the Quisumbings. Then, in 2002, the Quisumbings sold the land to the San Miguel Foods, Inc. That was a direct violation to the Torres Resolution because the San Miguel Foods, Inc. plans to put up a piggery farm on the 144 hectares ancestral land. Because of this, the SUMILAO FARMERS filed a Petition for the Cancellation of the Conversion Order dated November 3, 2004. Until today there are still waiting for your final decision.
Madam President, your kind attention to this concern is highly appreciated by all concerned. A solution to this problem will surely bring light and abundance not only to the SUMILAO FARMERS' families but also to their children and their children's children.
Here is hoping for the peaceful and fruitful resolution of this almost two (2) decades old struggle of our indigenous sisters and brothers.
In Our Lord,
† HONESTO Ch. PACANA, SJ, DD
Bishop of Malaybalay
This is one thing to be grateful for. The Sumilao march has indeed gathered support from the different walks of life, from fellow farmers, popular commentators, the academe etc.
i hope your organization can also present a letter of solidarity. If you can, please direct it to:
http://www.sumilaomarch.multiply.comhttp://www.pakisama.org
you can also sign the online petition through:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sumilaofarmers/
Padayon mga Kauban!
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