Farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), on Monday, June 20, refuted various claims, reiterating that planting food is not a crime and supporting farmers is not a criminal act.
The statement is in relation to the arrest and detention of farmers and advocates dubbed as “Tinang 83” on June 9, 2022 while they were conducting a collective land preparation activity in Hacienda Tinang.
Upon being questioned, Police Lieutenant Jenny Tolentino of Tarlac Police Public Information Office (PIO), in a televised interview over CNN Philippines on June 10, said that the farmers who declared ownership of land in Hacienda Tinang were holding “illegal papers.”
This was then refuted by Malayang Kilusang Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Tinang (MAKISAMA Tinang). In a text message to the Manila Bulletin, MAKISAMA Tinang Secretary Abby Bucad said that the papers they have presented are legitimate and granted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Meanwhile, on Monday morning, June 20, DAR revalidated its list of Tinang farmer-beneficiaries, of which the members of MAKISAMA Tinang are all included.
“This list from the DAR itself reaffirms the Tinang farmers as rightful owners of 200 hectares of land from Hacienda Tinang. After this formal notice, DAR is expected to formally install the Tinang farmer-beneficiaries at the soonest possible time,” said KMP.
“Despite this, Noel Villanueva is expected to try and continue to deprive the Tinang farmers of their land, as their clan has done for decades,” the farmers’ group claimed.
KMP then urged the public to remain vigilant against unjust and wrongful claims, reiterating that supporting farmers is not a crime.