SUMILAO, BUKIDNON — After marching for her in 2016, the Sumilao farmers of Bukidnon are once again supporting the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo, saying that her fight is the fight of people in the “laylayan (fringes of society).”
“Ang laban ni Ma’am Leni ay laban nating lahat na mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda at lahat ng mga nasa laylayan (Ma’am Leni’s fight is the fight of farmers and of fisherfolk and of those in the fringes of society),” Bajekjek Orquillas of the Panaw Sumilao Cooperative said in a translated Bisaya during their meeting with Robredo on Wednesday, Feb. 23, in Sumilao, Bukidnon.
“Dahil hindi siya politiko para sa amin na mga magsasaka ng Sumilao. Noong una pa man kasama na namin siya, hindi na siya iba sa amin. Nakilala namin siya bilang abogada, bilang isang kaibigan, bilang isang parang ina namin ng Sumilao farmers. So, sa ngayon, ang ipinaglalaban niya ay laban din natin (Because she is not a politician for us farmers in Sumilao. She has been with us from the start. We know her as a lawyer, a friend, and like a mother to us Sumilao farmers. So, now, her fight is our fight, too),” she added.
The aspiring president was met with cheers and a tarpaulin that said, “Sumilao Farmers for Leni to Malacañang,” upon her arrival here.
They had a symbolic march to the Panaw Sumilao Coop Center where she signed the pact with the Sumilao farmers, promising to distribute the 500,000 hectares of land under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), reform the Rice Tariffication Law, improve the participation of farmers in the Philippine Coconut Authority Board and Trust Fund Management Committee, pass the National Land Use Act (NLUA), ensure the funding and support for local farmers, and prioritize local products over importation, among others.
Orquillas expressed confidence that they can help Robredo secure a win again as they did in 2016.
She also advised Filipino voters to choose the right leaders and not those they watch on social media platform TikTok.
“Ang nakikita kong tama na tao para sa pagkapangulo ay si VP Leni Robredo (The right person I see for the presidency is VP Leni Robredo) and soon to be the President of the Philippines ,” Orquillas said.
Manuel Noval of the Sumilao Progressive Farmers Association added that they will “pray hard” for Robredo to win.
The Vice President said she is proud that the farmers are now “empowered,” mentioning that they used to have zero assets but are now worth P37 million.
“Empowered na lahat kasi lahat nabigyan ng pagkakataon na mamuno, nabigyan ng pagkakataon na gawin 'yung sariling laban na hindi lang sumusunod pero nasa gitna mismo ng laban (Everyone is empowered because they were given a chance to lead, they were given a chance to fight not only as a follower, but as the one in the middle of the fight),” she added.
Robredo’s relationship with the Sumilao farmers went as far back as 2007 when she and her husband, the late former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, welcomed them in Naga during their march on the way to Malacañang to ask for their ancestral land and fight against corporate giant San Miguel Corp.
The farmers said only the Robredos welcomed them and even served them food as they passed many towns during that trek.
The couple marched with them for six kilometers and Jesse, who was then Naga City mayor, signed a resolution of support led by his wife.
Robredo then was a volunteer lawyer of the non-government organization Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (Saligan) that handled the Sumilao farmers’ case.
The farmers eventually got their lands back.
In April 2016, they reenacted their march all the way to Quezon City to show their support for Robredo’s vice-presidential bid.
Since then, the Vice President supported, through her Angat Buhay program, several farming initiatives in Sumilao.
The program provided funds to buy carabaos and tractors, and also built classrooms and dormitories for them.
Sumilao farmers have expressed their support to VP Leni. "Samahan natin si VP Leni sa Malacañang (Let us join VP Leni in Malacañang)!” one of them said.
Robredo replied: "Hindi pa ako pangulo kasama nyo na ako. Mas lalo na kung naging pangulo ako (I am with you even before. The more that I will be with you if I become president).”
The farmers' lives have significantly improved since 2007.