Farmers’ group ‘invades’ DAR building

The number of farmers, who have occupied the premises of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) office in Quezon City, was expected to swell last night to 500 as the "standoff" between Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza and agrarian reform advocates entered its second day.

Farmers belonging to the Ugnayan ng mga Magsasaka at Nagkakaisang Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (Unorka) said they would not leave the DAR premises until President Arroyo replaces Braganza.

About 400 farmers stormed the fourth floor of the DAR office in front of the Quezon Memorial Circle after Braganza reportedly reneged on his promise to hold a dialogue with them at 2 p.m.

Three farmers, including Vangie Mendoza, Unorka’s national coordinator, were injured in a scuffle with DAR security personnel.

"He was the one who set the meeting," said Erdie Ibabao, Unorka national president. "But when we went there, he refused to see us because he was meeting some congressmen."

Ibabao said the farmers gave Braganza until 8 p.m. yesterday to meet them "or else we would push through with this and campaign for his ouster."

Ibabao said Braganza has proven to be an incompetent agrarian reform secretary. "He should step down now or face the wrath of the farmers," he said.

Leaders of Unorka said they expected more farmers to swell the ranks of those picketing the DAR office to at least 500.

Braganza has drawn flak from various farmers’ groups who have accused him of failing to fast-track the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Braganza was roundly criticized for failing to attend the farmers’ commemoration of the CARP’s 13th anniversary last June 22 because he was participating in the peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front in Oslo, Norway.

His absence angered many farmers’ groups, claiming this showed his lack of focus as the head of one of the government’s most important, but largely ignored, departments.

Agrarian reform advocates also railed at Braganza following a shooting incident in Davao City last month where eight farmers were injured when security guards opened fire at a barricade they had put up in front of the DAR regional office there.