Part of Padre Faura in Manila closed to traffic as farmers rally at SC

The police closed to traffic on Thursday morning a portion of Padre Faura Street in front of the Supreme Court in Manila after some 300 coconut farmers staged a rally there.

 

Manila Police District (MPD) personnel secured the high court premises after the farmers called for the return of the coconut levy, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.

 

A tweet by GMA News TV reporter Lia Mañalac said the police allowed the farmers to hold a rally in front of the high court until 1:00 p.m. The farmers, who arrived in Metro Manila from Southern Luzon on Wednesday, had marched from Caritas Manila to the high court, the report said.

 

Some 1,000 coconut farmers on Wednesday marched to Metro Manila from Quezon province to call for their share of the coconut levy funds.

 

The farmers marched to the Baclaran Church compound to prepare for a series of activities where they would air their grievances in Metro Manila.

 

Luisita Esmao, chairperson of the farmers' group Lakas ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (Lakambini), said the funds were kept from 1972 to 1983, but up to now appeared to remain under the control of former Ambassador and San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. - VVP, GMA News