Dismissal of case a hard-earned victory -- Bayan-Negros
BACOLOD CITY -- The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) - Negros considered the decision dismissing the charges of illegal logging against nine upland farmers as a hard-earned victory.
"The upland farmers have shown that only through a resolute struggle and unity of the farmers we can resist the fascist persecutions of the state and the malicious attacks against the democratic farmers associations," says Felipe Levy Gelle Jr., secretary-general of Bayan-Negros.
"We will continue the fight of the remaining four upland farmers who remain in detention as they were charged. Our support will continue until the remaining jailed farmers are released," Gelle said.
Initial information coming from the Prosecutors Office said that nine upland farmers who were ordered released are Emilio Belleza, Rodrigo Belleza, Zaldy Brosas, Joemarie Lumanog, Nick Gregorio, Ernesto Barcelona, Hilario Ticar, Severino Santillan and Jerry dela Cruz.
On the other hand, four other farmers are still held in custody, namely; Jose Perez, Santiago Antipuesto, Romulo Villanueva, Jaime Lumberto and Carling Veloso.
The 13 upland farmers, except Carling Veloso, were arrested by members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) on July 5, 2008 at Brgy. Caduhaan and Brgy. Andres Bonifacio, Cadiz City for alleged illegal logging in the area.
The families of the jailed farmers who are holding a protest camp-out at the People's Park of Cadiz City for almost two months now are seeking the release of the arrested farmers.
Elvira Arcenal, secretary-general of KMP-Negros, to which the PAMACAD is affiliated, has informed Bayan that the farmers will find means to meet with Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante and Governor Isidro Zayco to discuss the concerns of RPA-ABB harassments and threats to the life of the jailed farmers, rehabilitation of the destroyed livelihood and the demands for farm implements and other support services when they return to the communities.
"Arrest and detention of upland farmers will intensify in the days to come, as filing of fabricated charges and malicious charges will be one of the strategies of the military and the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG) in its counter-insurgency program," Gelle ended.