FARMERS from Hacienda Luisita Inc. in Tarlac said on Tuesday the Cojuangco-Aquino kin is trying to block the confirmation of Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano for his “genuine agrarian reform.”
“This is not surprising,” said John Milton, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura [UMA] secretary general.
He said businessman Martin Lorenzo was also behind the move to oppose Mariano’s confirmation.
According to UMA, the Cojuangco-Aquino clan sold the Central Azucarera de Tarlac to Lorenzo.
The Lorenzos, owner of the Lapanday Foods Corp. in Mindanao, are now the majority owners of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac and owned two subsidiaries—the Luisita Land Corp. and Agrikulto Inc.
“It would be wise then for the Commission on Appointments to take notice of these facts in their decision whether to confirm Ka Paeng as DAR secretary on Aug. 30, or not. The rejection of Ka Paeng as the secretary would only show that the present Duterte administration is no different with hacienderos and oligarchs like the Cojuangcos-Aquinos-Lorenzos of Hacienda Luisita and Lapanday Foods Corp.
In a related development, Anakpawis Party-List Rep. Ariel Casilao rallied behind Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano whose fate to the Duterte administration will be ascertained today (Wednesday) by the Commission on Appointments, saying his confirmation will be crucial to President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise of an inclusive governance and for fundamental reforms.
“If the CA rejects Ka Paeng, we could wave goodbye to the presiden’t pledge for an inclusive governance, and say hello again deplorably to a rule of big hacienderos, oligarchs and militarists,” Casilao said.
Casilao said Mariano’s leadership in the department led to its positive and speedy response to farmers’ grievances on agrarian cases, and instrumental to the inclusion of the genuine agrarian reform via free distribution of land in the Philippine Development Plan and on the Comprehensive Agreement on Socioeconomic Reforms of the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
“Hence, his rejection would totally obliterate the already little optimism of the farmers in the government,” Casilao added.
“As [Secretary Mariano] is the last beam of hope of poor sectors in the Duterte cabinet, we urge the president and members of the CA to uphold inclusive governance for the benefit of the people, otherwise, this administration would only reap the unrest, primarily from the peasant sector who are already at present occupying hacienda lands across the country,” Casilao said.
Last July, President Duterte reappointed Mariano after being bypassed by the commission.
Aside from the militant lawmaker, land reform advocates also threw their support behind Mariano and even planned to lead a vigil at the Senate on the eve of his confirmation hearing.
“Mariano is the last best chance of this administration. President Duterte should heed the public’s clamor and retain Ka Paeng at DAR,” said Zenaida Soriano of the AMIHAN Peasant Women Federation.
The vote of CA members from Duterte’s supermajority will be crucial in determining Mariano’s confirmation.
“We want him confirmed. He is needed at DAR to pursue pro-farmer reforms that include free land distribution,” Soriano added.
On Wednesday, farmers’ groups and progressive organizations nationwide will also launch simultaneous mass actions in support of Mariano’s confirmation.
In Southern Mindanao, more than 2,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and farmers from Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley led by the ARBs One Movement will troop to Davao City to demand the confirmation of Mariano.
In Cagayan de Oro City, farmers will hold a vigil at the DAR Misamis Oriental provincial office. They will then march to Plaza Divisoria.
In Iloilo, 500 farmers will march from the DAR Region 6 Provincial Office in La Paz, Iloilo City to the Provincial Capitol. Similar actions will take place in the provinces of Aklan and Capiz.
In Bicol, thousands of farmers from Masbate and Camarines Norte will also hold mass actions.
More than 300 farmers led by the Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan will hold a caravan from Quezon, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and Rizal provinces to join the vigil and actions at the Senate.
Farmers from Mariano’s home province Nueva Ecija will join the activities at the Senate. Ilocos farmers will also travel to Manila.
The DAR Employees Association (DAREA) will join the actions in support of Ka Paeng.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said that the public needs “to trust” the upcoming decision by the CA on the nomination of Mariano.
Mariano is facing ten oppositions before the CA, three of which are separate resolutions issued by three barangays in Tarlac.
The oppositions against Mariano were filed by the following: Noel A. Mallari, et al., Manuel O. Gallego, Jr., Ricardo V. Quintos, . Rodel Mesa and Mr. Angelito Bais; Roberto Nidera, et al.; Barangay Sta. Catalina, Tarlac City, Tarlac, Barangay Asturias, Tarlac City, Tarlac; Barangay Motrico, La Paz, Tarlac; Edgar V. Aguas, Manolito B. Dagatan and Hernani P. Geronimo.
Members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Thursday said they are expecting the possible rejection of Mariano, a former Anakpawis Representative, by the CA.
Meanwhile, members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s official family are still doing well, the Palace said Tuesday amid talks of possible revamp for at least two Cabinet members.
At a Palace news briefing, Abella downplayed these reports as “noise” that should be dismissed.
“In general, based on survey, the President — the Cabinet Secretaries seem to be doing very well,” Abella said.
“I’m sure that there are various highs — highs and lows of performance. On the other hand … there are other things that need to be addressed. Continually many things that need to be addressed.
Asked on these particular areas or departments that need to be “addressed,” Duterte said that these would “depend on the President.”
Talks in political circles claims at least two Cabinet officials known to be close to the President were already on their way out — one in the security sector and another in the law enforcement side.
The move comes as Duterte tries to fill in the gaps within his Cabinet, amid the rejections made by the powerful Commission on Appointments.
