Palawan farmers, fisherfolk plead for help from Duterte

Residents of Palawan turn to President Rodrigo Duterte for help after their homes were burned in an attempt to evict them from their land as they ask for the enforcement of agrarian reform.

^{Norle Bernabe (left), a farmer based in Palawan, with Teofilo Lauren traveled to Quezon City to listen to President Duterte's first SONA and to ask for the implementation of the government's agrarian reform program. PHOTO CREDIT/JESSICA BARTOLOME}

Norle Bernabe, president of Kasamahang TK, traveled all the way to Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City hoping to bring the issue to Duterte, who delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

"Gusto namin ipaabot dito yung aming problema sa lupa at pangingisda," Bernabe said.

Bernabe and his neighbors have lived in Taytay, Palawan since 1970 and their means of livelihood are through farming and fishing.

He claimed that last week their homes were razed by a private company, which he didn't identify.

"Pinagsunog ang aming mga bahay. Linagari nila. Pinagsira. Ang aming pananim ay pinagkakain nila. Wala kaming magawa," Bernabe said.

The residents could no longer enter the premises after the fire, because they were barred by armed policemen standing guard.

The residents, including Bernabe, were also charged with forcible entry.

The crisis prompted them to sell their carabaos and pigs so they can join the rally outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex, where the SONA was held.

"Hinihiling namin na tunay nang ipatupad ang reporma sa lupa. At aming nais na mapakinggan kami ni Pangulong Duterete," Bernabe said.

Republic Act 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 has allowed the distribution of 4.7 million hectares to farmer beneficiaries as of December 2015.

However, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Rafael Mariano said this comprises only 10 percent of the total number of hectares that still have to be awarded.

Bernabe said he believes Duterte will come to their aid, noting that he has already made a lot of changes since becoming President.

"Maganda ang pamumuno ni pangulong Duterte...pagpunta namin ngayon iba ang aming naramdaman. Ang mga pulis dito, kasama namin," he said, lauding the peaceful protest.

"Simula nang umupo si Pangulong Duterte, nagalakan kami. Hindi na kami natakot sa pulis. Hindi na kami nakasubok ng palo, at spray ng tubig," he added.

— BAP, GMA News