Robredo urges fair resolution to case involving Tarlac farmers, land reform activists

Outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday said the incident involving the arrest of at least 100 farmers and land reform advocates in Concepcion, Tarlac, should be resolved fairly. 

"Bagaman tinutukoy pa ang kabuuang detalye, ilang bagay ang malinaw: Mapayapa ang naganap na pagtitipon. Walang ibang layunin ang mga magsasaka kundi ang magbigay ng maayos na pamumuhay sa kanilang mga pamilya. Pumunta roon ang kanilang mga tagasuporta upang makiisa at tumulong," Robredo said in a statement.

(While full details are still being determined, certain things are clear: The gathering was peaceful. The farmers have no other objective but to provide a decent life for their families. Their supporters went there to support and help.)

She also urged authorities to treat the arrested individuals with respect. 

"Umaasa kaming igagalang ang kanilang karapatang pantao; itatrato sila bilang kapwa-Pilipinong may dignidad; at magkakaroon ng makatarungang resolusyon ang insidenteng ito sa lalong madaling panahon," Robredo said.

(We hope that their human rights will be respected; they will be treated as fellow Filipinos with dignity; and that a just resolution will be delivered as regards to the incident as soon as possible.)

Altermidya, a progressive media network, said those arrested were performing "bungkalan" or collective farming activity in the area, but the police said they were arrested for "malicious mischief and obstruction of justice."

Altermidya said those arrested were agrarian reform beneficiaries of Hacienda Tinang and several other farmer advocate groups, including artists, campus journalists, and students.

Among those arrested were 63-year-old Felino Cunanan, 34-year-old Chino Cunanan, 36-year-old Abigail Bucad, 45-year-old Sonny Dimarucut, 58-year-old Sonny Magcalas, and 39-year-old Pia Montalban, 36-year-old Alvin Dimarucut, and other residents and land reform supporters.

Investigators alleged that Tarlac residents used a rotovator and demolished the sugarcane plantation owned by the Agriculture Cooperative located in Barangay Tinang at around 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Police officers of the Concepcion Municipal Police Station, Special Action Force, 1st and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, Tarlac Police Provincial Office Intelligence Branch, Regional Mobile Force Battalion; as well as the Philippine Army 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Naval Intelligence and Security Group-Northern Luzon; tried to “pacify” the farmers and advocates.

But they allegedly became “unruly and tried to obstruct the law enforcers from performing their official duties.”

Central Luzon Police Regional Director Police Brigadier Matthew Baccay said that while the law enforcers acted upon their mandated task, the incident continued to be investigated.—VBL, GMA News