The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) condemned the continued harassment against farmers and sugar farm workers asserting their right to land and livelihood in Batagas and Tarlac provinces, respectively.

Jaysie Baluna, spokesperson of the Kaisahan ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Tubuhan (KAISAHAN) and leader of the sugar plantation farm workers alliance Sugarfolks’ Unity for Genuine Agricultural Reform (SUGAR-Batangas) is being subjected to nonstop harassment by soldiers belonging to the 59th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army.

According to Tanggol Magsasaka-Timog Katagalugan, they received reports over the weekend that the soldiers were asking for the whereabouts of Baluna and threatened to file cases against him and his family. Baluna, a resident of Barangay Putol, Tuy in Batangas province is actively engaged in the local struggles of sugar farm workers, particularly sugar farm workers affected by the closure of the CADPI sugar mill in Batangas.

This latest incident of harassment against Balua comes after the 59th IBPA’s heightened military presence in Barangay Putol that endangers the safety and well-being of residents.

“We condemn the military’s unspeakable atrocities against civilians. Military presence and encampment in a community inhabited by civilians could lead to more rights abuses,” according to Ronnie Manalo of KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka.

Residents have reported that soldiers from the 59th IB have been maintaining their presence in the community since August 4, creating alarm and fear among the residents.

According to the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Dimarucut was attacked by masked gunmen last night, August 6, 2023. Dimarucut filed a blotter report at the local police station this morning and recounted how, at 10 PM on Sunday, an estimate of five or six armed men aboard motorcycles and a van brazenly fired shots around his residence, even daring to stop outside his gate. UMA suspects the involvement of NTF-ELCAC and its local counterpart in the harassment incident against Dimarucut.

Harassment vs. leader of soon-to-be installed ARBs in Hacienda Tinang

The same situation is happening to Alvin Dimarucut, chairperson of the local ARB organization MAKISAMA-Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac.

The armed intimidation against Dimarucut happened days after Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) personnel carried out a survey order in Hacienda Tinang to segregate around 62.4 hectares for 90 members of MAKISAMA-Tinang last week. The harassment could be related to the impending installation of Makisama-Tinang ARBs who are determined to assert their right to the land.

Manalo said these attacks against farmer-leaders are a direct affront to democratic rights. KMP will seek the help of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on these recent attacks. ###