Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) condemns the illegal demolition of farmers’ houses in Lupang Teresa, Bgy. San Roque, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan today January 26. “We challenge 2022 candidates to speak and act on the plight of Bulacan farmers, especially incumbent and re-electionist Mayor Arthur Robes,” KMP National Chairperson Danilo Ramos says. 

Several goons reportedly hired by Araneta Properties Inc. arrived in Lupang Teresa at around 6am today and destroyed four houses of farmer families and several banana trees. They also took the farmers’ cell phones to prevent them from taking photographs and videos. A still undetermined amount of money and other belongings were reportedly taken too by the demolition team who also punctured holes into the farmers’ motor vehicles.

“This demolition is utterly heartless. We are facing Omicron and stricter conditions of living yet Araneta’s goons unrelentingly attack us,” Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan Chairperson Cecil Rapiz says.

Rapiz explained that Araneta Properties Inc., led by Gregorio “Greggy” Araneta, III has been trying to evict the farmers of Lupang Teresa since January 2013. “It aims to construct a private subdivision over the farmers’ productive fruit and vegetable farms.” 

She adds that Araneta’s guards have blocked farm-to-market roads in Brgy. San Roque without proper authorization since August 2021. They also destroyed two farmers’ huts in October 2021. 

Rapiz herself was harassed by military men last January 24. Elements of the Philippine Army went into her house and accused her of being an active rebel. 

Greggy Araneta is also the brother-in-law of convicted tax evader and presidentiable Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Lahat ng kandidato maka-magsasaka tuwing eleksyon, dapat patunayan naman nila ang mga salita nila,” Ramos ended. #