Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), on Thursday, June 9, strongly condemned the “harassment” aimed at farmers and advocates at Barangay Tinang, Concepcion in Tarlac.

On Thursday, at least 150 members of the farmers’ group Malayang Kilusang Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Tinang (MAKISAMA-Tinang), together with around 50 advocates, conducted a collective land preparation activity in Hacienda Tinang.

As they were starting to clear some two hectares out of the 200-hectares sugarcane plantation, police officers arrived.

“Around 10:30 a.m., Mayor Noel Villanueva barged in with 20 armed policemen from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 3, including one in civilian clothes who identified himself as a chief. They proceeded to intimidate and threaten farmworkers and advocates,” said KMP.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, MAKISAMA-Tinang Secretary Abby Bucad disclosed that at least three farmer-leaders, together with other land reform advocates were arrested.

The collective land preparation activity that the farmers were doing are part of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ (ARBs) assertion of their “right to the land.”

“Kami ang lehitimong benepisyaryo ng lupa. Ang gusto lang namin ay mahawan ang tubuan para makapag tanim ng mga gulay na makakain ng mga pamilya namin. Kung hindi kami magtatanim, mamamatay kaming dilat sa gutom dahil sa napakamahal na presyo ng bilihin (We are the legitimate beneficiaries of the land. All we want is to clear the sugarcane field so that we can grow vegetables for our families to eat. If we do not plant, we will starve to death because of the high price of commodities in the country),” exclaimed Felino Cunanan Jr., one of the leaders of the farmers’ group MAKASAMA-Tinang who was also arrested by local officers.