Around 3,000 Ilocano settlers in Barangay Sumugot,Amai Manabilang, Lanao del Sur, have been forcibly relocated to land owned by the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) after their homes and crops were demolished by tractors last December.
The displacement was mandated to make way for cacao and coffee plantations, prompting outcry from affected farmers.
Efren Estoque, President of the Small Ilocano Farmers Association, raised their plight during a recent media forum at Club Filipino in San Juan City.
Estoque, a third-generation descendant of settlers from La Union, Pangasinan, and Tarlac, urgently appealed for government intervention and criticized the limited media coverage of their situation, despite efforts to bring attention to their cause.
Orlando Ravanera, former Undersecretary and Chairperson of the Cooperative Development Authority, supported Estoque's assertions.
He highlighted the role of local political dynasties and corporations in exacerbating land disputes, citing the legacy of political dominance in Sultan Mastora that allegedly oppresses local farmers.
Ravanera traced the origins of these issues to the administration of President Ramon Magsaysay, when Ilocano settlers were granted land development rights.
He accused SPDA and affiliated corporations of using tractors, often supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, to damage crops and disrupt farming activities through measures like water supply cuts and road destruction.
During a media conference in Cagayan de Oro City, Noel Subido recounted a tragic incident where his father and 21 others, including a pregnant woman, were killed in a massacre allegedly involving the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, with no apparent action taken.
Ravanera condemned these alleged human rights violations and disclosed ongoing dialogues with SPDA Administrator Gerry Salapuddin and the Commission on Human Rights, suggesting a perceived bias towards corporations seeking to utilize the disputed land.
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