By Shayne Elizabeth T. Flores

Farmers and multi-sectoral progressive groups attributed the peasantry’s persisting poor economic conditions to the corruption in government funds during the commemoration of Peasants’ Day at Mendiola Street last October 21.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Chairperson Danilo ‘Ka Daning’ Ramos reiterated farmers’ calls for land reform, national industrialization, and the cessation of militarization of rural communities, among others.

“Tunay na reporma sa lupa at pambansang industriyalisasyon; itigil ang militarisasyon sa kanayunan; buwagin ang NTF-ELCAC [National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict] at itulak ang zero budget para rito sa 2026 (Real land reform and national industrialization; stop the militarization of the countryside; abolish the NTF-ECLAC and push for its zero budget by 2026),” he said.

Last 2024, the KARAPATAN Year-End Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines cited 173 cases of aerial bombardment, artillery fire, and strafing since Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency until the Marcos Jr. administration today, with the vast majority of affected communities including farmers, fisherfolk, workers, and indigenous peoples.

Meanwhile, in his speech, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Chairperson Jerome Adonis condemned the corruption cases under the Marcos Jr. administration and the country’s bureaucratic capitalist system for further dragging the masses into poverty.

“Lahat tayo ay pinagnanakawan ng harap-harapan ng gobyerno ni [Ferdinand] Bongbong Marcos [Jr.] at ng buong sistema ng burukrata kapitalista… Sila po ang nagpapahirap—kung bakit milyon-milyong mga Pilipino ang naghihirap sa kasalukuyan… kung bakit milyon-milyong magsasaka ay walang lupa, milyon-milyong manggagawa ay patuloy na nagdarahot (We are being robbed right in front of faces by the Marcos Jr. administration and the whole bureaucratic capitalist system. They are the reason why millions of Filipinos are suffering today, with millions of farmers landless and workers struggling),” he claimed.

Similarly, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) Secretary-General Mimi Doringo stressed the Filipinos’ hunger for good governance in the face of the state’s misuse of public funds in ghost and substandard flood control projects.

Additionally, she cited the country’s trillions of outstanding debt owing to domestic and external borrowings, which could have been utilized to improve public services.

“Nilulubog na kami sa mga baha. Ang mamamayang Pilipino nilulubog sa trilyon-trilyong utang na hindi naman tayo ang nakikinabang… Pinapatay tayo ng kawalang hustisya ng pamahalaang ito (We are being drowned in floods. Filipinos are buried in trillions of debt that we are not even benefitting from. The injustice of this government is killing us),” the KADAMAY Secretary-General remarked in her speech.

Moreover, the KMU Chairperson pointed out the state’s aggression towards farmers, often responding to their pleas with violence and militarization.

“Ang mga magsasaka, kapag humihingi ng lupa, pagpapataas ng presyo ng produktong agrikultural, ang sagot ng gobyerno: pulis at militar, bala at baril (When farmers ask for land and increases in the prices of agricultural products the government answer with the police and military, as well as bullets and guns),” Adonis noted.

As of 2024, KARAPATAN recorded 86 peasants as victims of extrajudicial killings, while seven reportedly disappeared.

As such, Doringo believes that it is only justifiable for peasants’ to retaliate through mass protests as the government exercises violence against farmers themselves.

“Makatwiran ang humawak ng armas dahil dinadahas ang taumbayan… Hindi natatakot ang taumbayan sa tindi ng pamamasistang ginagawa nyo sa amin, mula sa mga mambubukid na mga pinapaslang ninyo, mula sa mga pinasu-surrender ninyo na mga maralita sa komunidad at ginagamit pa ang pondo ng bayan (It is reasonable to take up arms when the masses are abused. The masses are not afraid to fight against state fascism, from the killing of farmers, forced surrender of peasants, to the misuse of public funds),” she asserted.

Pledging to continue protesting against state abuse through various forms, the progressive groups are set to continue relaying their opposition at the next wide-scale demonstration on Bonifacio Day, November 30, in commemoration of labor groups this time.

(Photo by Ma. Louela Luna/FEU Advocate)