Anti-peace talks stance condemned
THE Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) condemns the anti-peace talks stance of the military for arresting and detaining Ricky Omandam in Brgy. New Eden, Pangantucan, Bukidnon on June 17, 2018. The peace talks were cancelled by President Duterte on June 14 at the instigation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Ricky was detained by the 58th IBPA and accused him of being a supporter of the New People’s Army. His present situation is still being ascertained.
He is a member of Onyon sa Yanong Obrerong Nagkahiusa (OGYON), a local organization of farm workers active in demanding higher wages and genuine agrarian reform, and against expansion of plantations. OGYON is a member of UMA.
According to Ogyon, the soldiers have been stationed at the Brgy. Hall of New Eden for about three weeks now. They have subjected members of the community to interrogations and threats.
The peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) were cancelled after President Duterte held a command conference with the AFP which had great reservations against any agreement with the NDFP.
UMA Sec. Gen. John Milton “Butch” Lozande stated that Ricky’s cousin, Alfredo, who is also an Ogyon organizer was arrested and detained on July 20, 2017 by the 36th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. He was accused of being an NPA commander and is charged with possession of explosives.
He was active in the campaign against the expansion of pineapple and banana plantation of Sumifru Philippines Corporation, a Japanese company, in their community. He also joined rallies to demand for the increase in wage among farm laborers, so they could put enough food on their tables and provide for the basic needs of their families.
Of the 17,429 hectares agricultural land in Pangantucan, 11,502 hectares or 66% are devoted to plantations. A number of these are being leased by Sumifru at only P15,000 per hectare per year from small farmers. The lessors have the right to nominate one worker per 1.5 hectares but do not become regular workers.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has listed Sumifru as one of the topmost companies suspected or found to be engaged in labor-only contracting, which is an illegal act.
Other than that, it has a long list of labor violations like unfair labor practices; illegal dismissal/suspension of union officers and members; violation/ non-implementation of CBA, etc.
Sumifru also supplies 30% of bananas to Japan and retails these from P276 – P340 per kilo there. It buys one box containing 13.5 kilos of bananas at just P226.87 from its Filipino growers. It thus earns superprofits from this kind of marketing arrangement with small Filipino farmers.
It is becoming obvious that the military is arresting and red tagging any person who is against the expansion of corporate plantations like Sumifru which are engaged in exploitative practices against the farmers and its workers.
It is also against the resumption of the peace talks with the NDFP and against the signing of the Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ARRD) and National Industrialization and Economic Development of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER), which seeks to resolve problems like those being made by Sumifru.
- Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura