Agrarian reform beneficiaries from Tagum City under the Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc. (MARBAI) camped out in Mendiola, Manila, a few meters away from Malacañang Palace, since May 1. They travelled to Manila to appeal to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene in the implementation Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Rafael Mariano’s order to reinstate the 159 agrarian reform beneficiaries in the 145-hectare banana plantation in San Isidro farm in Tagum City which is controlled by Lapanday Foods Corporation. DAR failed to install the agrarian reform beneficiaries in April due to lack of police assistance to secure the installation against Lapanday’s armed security forces.
On May 9, President Duterte visited the camp out and expressed his support to DAR’s order to reinstate the agrarian reform beneficiaries in the land awarded to them in 1996.
MARBAI camp out in Mendiola. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)MARBAI camp out in Mendiola. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)MARBAI camp out in Mendiola. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)MARBAI camp out in Mendiola. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)Rehearsals for a performance from delegation from Mindanao at the MARBAI camp out. (Manila Today/Chantal Eco)Helen Samillano holds a copy of the Writ of Installation issued by DAR in favor of MARBAI members. (Manila Today/Chantal Eco)Artemio Serot, 55 years old, started working for the Hijos Plantation in 1992. The plantation was voluntarily subjected to land reform under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and was awarded to the workers in 1996. He is among the 159 agrarian reform beneficiaries under MARBAI. (Manila Today/Chantal Eco)Protesters make a signage for the camp’s. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)MARBAI camp out in Mendiola. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)A photo of a banana plantation worker from Tagum City was printed on sintra board as part of the camp’s income generating project to defray costs of their camp and transportation. (Manila Today/Erika Cruz)On May 9, President Rodrigo Duterte arrive at MARBAI’s camp out in Mendiola. This is the first time a Philippine President visited protesting farmers in a picketline. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)On May 9, President Rodrigo Duterte arrive at MARBAI’s camp out in Mendiola. This is the first time a Philippine President visited protesting farmers in a picketline. (Presidential Photo/Ace Morandante)On May 9, President Rodrigo Duterte arrive at MARBAI’s camp out in Mendiola. This is the first time a Philippine President visited protesting farmers in a picketline. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)On May 9, President Rodrigo Duterte arrive at MARBAI’s camp out in Mendiola. This is the first time a Philippine President visited protesting farmers in a picketline. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)Anakpawis Party-list Representative Ariel Casilao address the people at the camp out in Mendiola after President Rodrigo Duterte left. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)A few hours after President Rodrigo Duterte left the camp on May 9, NDFP peace consultant Wilma Tiamzon visited the protesters. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)A few hours after President Rodrigo Duterte left the camp on May 9, NDFP peace consultant Wilma Tiamzon visited the protesters. (Manila Today/KJ Dumapit)
