Cops dismantle farmers' camp at Batasan

MANILA, Philippines – Police cleared the Batasang Pambansa complex’s main gate of about 90 farmers who have been camping there for more than a month now.

Despite negotiations between Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano and House officials, policemen – assisted by the chamber’s own security personnel – dismantled the farmers’ makeshift shelters.

At least six protesters were injured in an allegedly violent dispersal and were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center for fractured bones and high blood pressure, according to Gerry Albert Corpuz, the protesters’ spokesman.

Corpuz said guards allegedly hit the protesters with truncheons and hosed them down with water from a firetruck. Among the injured were Marlyn Marbella, Oscar Lapida Jr., Antonio Flores, Jeffrey Duran, Merly Ortega, and Rommel Sorbes.

He also said Ronnel Arambulo, Roldan Tabis and Biboy Nayve sustained minor injuries.

The peasants had vowed to wage a three-month protest to press for the approval of a genuine agrarian reform extension bill.

Speaker Prospero Nograles announced that the House will approve the extension bill before Congress goes on its long adjournment on June 5.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo denounced the “vio-lent dispersal” of the farmers as a “repressive move by the House leadership,” adding that some women and children were hurt in the dispersal.

He said Nograles refused to intervene despite his personal appeal to him. “Sorry partner, it’s beyond me,” Ocampo quoted Nograles as telling him in a text message.

Ocampo said Nograles told him there were intelligence reports that the protesters were planning a big rally on Monday, and the camp was dismantled upon the recommendation of “House security and police authorities.”

But such reports did not justify the dispersal since the farmers have been protesting peacefully, he said.

Mariano said he was surprised that House security and police personnel suddenly moved against the protesters, who agreed to vacate one side of the main gate upon the request of House Secretary General Marilyn Yap.

He, Ocampo and their militant colleagues vowed to press for the passage of a bill that extends a genuine agrarian reform program.

Landowners among congressmen have successfully blocked the approval of such a bill last December and proponents are not hopeful they could overcome strong opposition to the measure from their landlord-colleagues.