Farmers, Indigenous Peoples continue camp out protest as QC probes altercation

MANILA — Farmers and indigenous peoples continued their “Kampuhang Magbubukid” protest in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) central office in Quezon City on Tuesday, October 20.

Among the protesters was 65-year-old indigenous farmer Nelson De Guzman from Capas, Tarlac, who said the Pax Silica threatens their ancestral land and their livelihood.

“Kinakamkam nila ang aming lupang ninuno. Kasi po doon na po kami lumaki o doon na po ang aming lupang ninuno, doon po kami iniwan sa aming lupa. Mahal po namin ang aming lugar kasi po diyan po kami nabubuhay.”

De Guzman also appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consider the plight of indigenous communities.

“Ginoong Pangulong Marcos, sana po maisipan nyo naman po ‘yong aming talagayan bilang katutubo sa kabundukan. Minana po namin sa aming ninuno kaya hindi namin po maiwan-iwanan yun dahil lugar po namin, diyan po kami nabubuhay at dyan po kami mamamatay.”

The protesters also called for land reform and solutions to environmental issues.

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Secretary General Ronnie Manalo called for free land distribution and production subsidies for farmers.

“Dahil number one na tayo, nangunguna na tayo importer ng bigas, na kaya naman yan iproduce ng ating mga magsasaka,” he said.

Manalo also called for the repeal of the Price Liberalization Law, which he blamed for farmers’ losses and mounting debt.

“Kaya, lokal na produksyon, hindi importasyon. Kaya yung tugon sa krisis sa pagkain, dapat palakasin ang ating agrikultura at ang ating mga magsasaka.”

October is observed as National Peasant Month and National Indigenous Peoples Month.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines condemned the Quezon City Police District’s alleged use of violence against Bulatlat reporter Ernest Cruz during Monday’s protest at the DAR central office.

The NUJP said Cruz could be heard shouting “Taga-media ako” while showing his identification card to police officers in a video of the incident.

It also reported that campus journalist and Tudla correspondent Robie Matias was injured during a standoff between protesters and police.

Matias alleged that officers deliberately stepped on him.

The NUJP called for accountability for the officers involved and urged the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incident.

“We demand that these safeguards be applied in Cruz’s case, that the officers involved be held accountable, and that the PNP ensure journalists can cover protests without fear of violence or obstruction,” the statement read.

“Police should stop harassing journalists,” it added.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Quezon City government said Mayor Joy Belmonte had ordered an investigation into the confrontation, stressing that anyone found to have abused their authority must be held accountable.

The local government also emphasized that the QCPD should observe maximum tolerance.

“Malinaw ang paninindigan ng Pamahalaang Lungsod: dapat hayaang manatili ang mga magsasaka hanggang bukas ng tanghali, para sa kanilang mapayapa at maayos na pagkilos. Ang kanilang mga hinaing ay dapat pakinggan at tugunan sa pamamagitan ng dayalogo,” thr QC LGU said in a statement.

The QCPD, meanwhile, offered a different account of the incident.

In its statement, the police district said initial reports indicated that a verbal altercation occurred between a person who identified himself as a media member and deployed police personnel.

“The individual allegedly uttered profane remarks and kicked several police personnel. In response, the officers intervened to prevent further escalation. The individual was subsequently released,” the QCPD said.

The QCPD said it was continuing its investigation to establish the full circumstances of the incident and determine whether any laws were violated.

The protesting groups, DAR, and the Quezon City government have also entered into a memorandum of understanding to ensure that the protesters will not be forced to leave the area until their program has concluded.

The camp out protest is expected to conclude on Wednesday.