Remarks of Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop
of Manila during thePress Conference of the
Sumilao Farmers held at the Conference Room
of Arzobispado de Manila on January 17, 2008 at 2 p.m.

The Sumilao Case brings out several points about the idea of development that is being pursued by the government and by big business in many cases. No wonder that despite all the claims about the improving economic reality, there is still widespread poverty and discontent among the people especially among the poor. And these are some points of the idea of development that is being brought out by this case.

First point, San Miguel claims that the 2.4 billion peso project will bring development to the people of Sumilao. It may be true with that amount of money, “may maaambunan.” But the big question is, development at whose cost? At the cost of justice following the law? At the cost of truth? The sale of the land is questionable to be done in good faith? At the cost of poor farmers who would be deprive of what is theirs? Can this case just be covered because big money is coming to the place? Is this reasoning not happening all over the country? Farm lands being leased to the corporations. The RP China agreement, because it is being based on that investment. Mountains being mined at the cost of indigenous people by fraudulent means of getting their consent. Development at whose cost?

San Miguel claims it employs the farmers, for how long and employ for what since they are farmers. And why is this happening? Because the small people are not listened to. When San Miguel bought the land of Quisumbing, were the farmers listened to? Not even being paid attention to. When the farmers protested in Bukidnon, in Sumilao and in the DAR regional office in Cagayan de Oro, were they listened to?

At the very beginning of the massive constructions, San Miguel could have stated if the CDO had been given. San Miguel could not have started this broad project knowing that the land is contested. The farmers had to walk to Malacañang for two months to be heard and even when heard, no sense of urgency is given to them. It had to take 15 days for the Presidential order to reach San Miguel and meanwhile, San Miguel continues on building and it is on agricultural land.

That is why with these situations, really the farmers are at the disadvantage. Small people are excluded from development because they are not listened to. Their ideas of development are not being considered. And also there is a development during these days that the farmers themselves, their credibility are being attacked. There are claims that they are not farmers at all. There are claims that they are not proper beneficiaries although the Agrarian Reform law is clear that one should have three hectares. Below that, then, they are considered landless. And even their credibility is being questioned, that they are being used by other groups. Whereas, the farmers are having their own decisions. They are even being accused of being greedy. Whereas, the farmers just want what was supposed to be theirs. So there is an attack even against their credibility which I think is foul. We are going into the issues and not trying to speculate over other things.

Now, about the said offer of San Miguel, the offer for me is very vague. It comes from different people. Yes, I was told by Ramon Ang about the offer but on the phone and it was not even a formal offer. The farmers are asking where is this 200 hectare land? Where will you get them? It can be given from any place but where is this land where the farmers will be able to till on and to live. And about the work that is being promised, what kind of work? And knowing in our situation now about casualization of labor, they may be given work for a few months, a few years. But afterwards, what? Although the offer being given is very vague, yet, it is already being seen, as if it is a true offer.

So, these are situations that really make this case very difficult to solve. That's why we are appealing to the press, to the people. Let us go down to the basics. They are accusing us of being carried away by our emotions but I think they are the one being carried away by their own emotions. We go down to the basic. Whose land is it? And we start from there. And we start our negotiations from there.

We, in the Church, we are just supporting the farmers. We are giving voice to what they are saying. And we see what they are claiming for is right. That's why we are behind them. So, these are just the things that I wanted to say.