Remarks of His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila during the Press Conference
of the Sumilao Farmers held at the Conference Room
of Arzobispado de Manila on January 17, 2008 at 2 p.m.

For the Sumilao famers who are coming back to Manila, the issue here is justice. The basic issue is justice. On top will be business. A business that promises profit and employment to hundreds and even thousands of potential workers. But that is the superficial issue. The real issue is, could they be just to the farmers who have the prior rights over the contested land. You can build justice and put it under business to be crumpled upon because the basis of everything is how just could you be to your fellow men? To society? And even if the committee's promise is profit, development. Development, profit, employment cannot be built on an injustice.

Twice already, we would say that the Sumilao farmers are being robbed of their rights. That contested land for so long, had already been cultivated to rice, corn. In fact, in the late 70's and early 80's, that contested land was extremely fertile land called in their face Basakan or in our place Tubigan or irrigated rice land as you go down to Cagayan on left side.

Unfortunately, the owner, the Quisumbing, Norbert Quisumbing and family leased it to Del Monte pineapple, that was, I think in 1985. For ten years, something happened in the Philippines at that time, 1985 to 1995. EDSA would take place in 1986 if you remember. And in 1986, when Marcos was thrown out and in came of Cory Aquino government, we had, if you remember, the 1987 Constitution. And together with that land reform, and what they called the Comprehensive Agricultural Reform of the government which at that time was met with great welcome by the dealers who do not own land. But the land already has been leased to Del Monte.

When CARP came out, and that was already identified, that land, the contested land, identified to be given to give mark for the farmers now in San Vicente, Kisolon, Sumilao. Land behold, the owners had a bright idea. It marked already, inihanda na para sa mga magsasaka. Naihanda na, naituro na, ito, inyong inyo na ito. But the owners had a brilliant idea. Let heaven judge justice. That bright idea, I'm not going to judge. Let heaven judge. It appears that the devil has a manipulation to get the land out of the reach of diggers. This is the way you look at it. And they succeeded with the endorsement of the governor of Bukidnon.

Unfortunately, it was also supported by the Supreme Court. And so, the land was converted from agricultural to agri-industrial that boasted fertile land we're talking about. Fertile, tubigan, basakan, 3 beses mag-ani isang taon. Who's the loser? Naturally, the dealers. But you know how good God is? This is not the end of the story. The conversion of any land from agri to industrial falls within a clause of 5 years.

In conversion, you've got to start and build land behold. The way providence would have it, talagang napakabait ng Diyos. Walang itinayo kahit isang bato. Naturally, law will say it will go back again. They did not fulfill the very essential condition of build within heaven. Ito ang estado natin ngayon para maintindaihan ng bayan. Ikalawang beses ninanakawan ang pobre. Do you understand? That is what they are doing to you.

For the second time, now we say, how could you contest the potentials of let say, so many buildings, so many hogs, so many, etc. I think you don't contest that but its beyond on an injustice. That is what Bishop Pabillo said, this is where the Church is. Very clearly in favor of the poor. There is no politics here. In favor of the poor. Because this is exactly what the Church is, that Good News must be preached to the poor. Our Lord even said that, so, I intended this side with the poor.

You know, second part, I would want to tell you this. Now, here and also with our brothers and sisters from Bukidnon. You know in this country, we have laws, in fact, many laws. But in this country, the law could be interpreted in many ways. If you have money, if you have influence, if you have power, authority, especially money, you could bend the law and interpret it in your favor, the one that Bishop Pabillo was talking about. These as what we called interpretations of the same law that should apply to all which is the poor. But in this country, this is the way the law will be treated. If you have money, influence, authority, you could interpret it in your favor. If you do not have money, sorry, no one will interpret for you.

Second, upon interpreting that way, naturally, in the implementation level, again, the same thing would happen. If you have power, if you have money, if you have authority, you could implement it your favor. You see, why the Church will be on the side of the poor again. They have no money, no influence, no name, etc. That justifies why we are with them. And this may be the true process.

The issue is justice and it must be addressed. When justice is violated, don't put up the next block of stone to build. Address first the injustice that was done. Now, we just don’t know where to go from here, that's why, I think the country should know that there is injustice that has been done. How to correct it? How to remedy it? There are still possibilities. And I don't know what the law will say about that. But that's precisely why we are here. You listen to what they said. They are waiting for so many years.

Thank you for listening to them and thank you for understanding the background of this. You see emotions now. The law must be addressed especially when injustice has been done. So, let's leave it there and ask this government to stand by what is true, what is just.

We have a President once upon a time was so popular. He comes from the ranks and he said "The poor who have less in life should have more in law." Salamat po.