Sumilao farmers ended their 40-day walk on Thursday from Camarines Sur after arriving in Manila as they expressed their gratitude as well as support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Ten farmers as well as 10 land tillers from Banasi, a number that represents Robredo's ballot number, travelled for 4,400 kilometers, just like what they did when Robredo ran for vice presidency in 2016.
They were welcomed by Robredo's daughter, Aika, who thanked the farmers for joining their family in their "big fights."
"Iyong malalaking laban ng buhay namin parati kayong nandyan at hindi nyo kami iniwan. Lalo na po noong 2016 na wala pa halos naninindigan para sa Mama ko, kayo po yung unang tumayo sa kanya (In our biggest fights in life, you were always there and did not leave us. In 2016 when my mother did not have that much support, you were the one who stood for her)," the younger Robredo told the farmers.
When the vice president was still a practicing lawyer, she connected with a non-government group, Saligan, to help the Sumilao farmers reclaim their ownership of the land in Bukidnon.
As a form of gratitude to Robredo, the farmers walked from Sumilao, Bukidnon to Manila in support of her vice presidential bid in 2016. They decided to march anew after Robredo announced her candidacy for president.
"Si Leni ang napili namin dahil hindi lang sya nakatulong sa Sumilao bilang abugado, kundi marami rin ang kanyang natulungan sa mga magsasaka (We chose Leni because she did not only help Sumilao when she was still a practicing lawyer but also other farmers)," said Bajekjek Orquillas, one of the farmers.
Randy Cirio, one of the Banasi farmers, said Robredo helped defend their claim on the land when she was still part of Saligan.
"Dahil sa kanya at sa grupo nya sa Saligan, naipanalo namin yung aming kaso noong 2019, kaya ito po yung pagkakataon namin para tulungan din sya sa kanyang kampanya ngayong darating na eleksyon (Because of her and Saligan, we won our case in 2019. So we are taking this opportunity to help her in her campaign)," he said.
The Sumilao farmers were joined by other farmers’ organizations in a march cum caravan dubbed as "Lakad ng mga Pamilyang Magsasaka Laban sa Gutom at Kahirapan."
Along the way, they also conducted house to house campaigns where they discussed Robredo's platform and program.
The march also aimed to put hunger, poverty and injustice in the electoral agenda as well as to help consolidate and mobilize various farmers and basic sector organizations.