Farmers ask SC to transfer $683-M Marcos funds to DAR

Farmers’ groups have asked the Supreme Court to order the immediate transfer of $683 million in Marcos escrow deposits to the Department of Agrarian Reform for use in the government’s agrarian reform program.

Speaking at the oath-taking yesterday of members of the Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee, Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan said farmers organizations and barangay officials made the call during his series of trips to Tawi-Tawi, Nongao, Jolo and Basilan over the weekend.

"After 15 years of implementing CARP, this is the first time that we have recovered ill-gotten wealth," he said. "Let us not allow the fund to slip past our hands."

However, Pagdanganan said US District Court Judge Manuel Real "overreacted" when he threatened last week to declare in contempt anybody who dared to touch the Marcos funds.

"Maybe Judge Real thought that we are still under American colonial rule when he tried to interfere with our internal affairs," he said.

Earlier, Pagdanganan urged barangay officials nationwide to pass resolutions asking the Supreme Court to resolve in favor of the government the motion for reconsideration filed by the Marcos family to reverse its decision declaring the $683 million as government funds.

"We have to act decisively because the Marcoses are still after the funds," he said.

Pagdanganan said P8 billion of the DAR’s P30-billion share of the Marcos money would be used to acquire land and pay owners of land placed under agrarian reform, especially those who have not yet been paid for properties already distributed to farmer-beneficiaries.

The remaining P22 billion would go to the construction of roads, bridges, irrigation, post-harvest facilities and schools in agrarian reform communities, he added.

President Arroyo has announced that P8 billion of the escrow funds will be used to compensate the human rights victims of martial law.

The $683 million is being held in escrow at the Philippine National Bank. –Pia Lee-Brago