Farmers to troop NCR for series of protests

MANILA, Philippines - A number of farmers will troop to the National Capital Region (NCR) Monday to disclose what they know on the alleged irregularities within the Department of Agriculture (DA). In a joint statement, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the farmers would come from Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon and the Cordillera region. “These are initial testimonies, but these would give the taxpaying public and the Filipino people an objective glimpse how Malacañang and the Agriculture department under the stewardship of Secretary Arthur Yap raided state coffers to satisfy greed and corruption by Arroyo and company,” the groups said. KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said farmers, fisherfolk and other rural-based activists in Cabanatuan City, Vigan, Ilagan, Tugegarao, Masbate, Legaspi City, Tacloban, Catarman, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Tagbilaran, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Davao City, General Santos City, Butuan City, Tandag, Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City could also shed lights on the new fund scams. A week-long protest is also in the offing, according to Ramos, who is one of the complainants in the fourth impeachment case against President Arroyo. For his part, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said a vigil campout will be held at the national office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Elliptical Road in Quezon City on October 20, and a 30-minute protest at the DA on October 21 before they proceed to Mendiola for the final program. - D'Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV