• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Sugar farmers in southern Negros sought the intervention of Ombudsman Samuel Martirez for the compliance of National Security Adviser Eduardo Eduardo Año and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Carlito Galvez, Jr. with the November 6, 2023 referral letters of the Office of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) to “evaluate the merit” of their petition to revive the Dacongcogon sugar mill project in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The failure to resolve whether or not their petition that has been pending for past thirteen years will be granted, is a demonstration of the indifference to the cause of the poor, and is oppressive, according to retired government prosecutor Rolando Parpa, who chairs the 8,000 strong Dacongcogon Farmers Producers Cooperative.
In a statement, Parpa said the farmers have been pleading and asserting for the revival of the Dacongcogon sugar mill that will restore their once vibrant economy, and address the problem of poverty and insurgency.
Noting that 138 people died in Negros Island under the present administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., due to insurgency mainly rooted on poverty, not counting those eight rebels died on November 21 and 22 in Candoni, Parpa said the prevailing social order where people are in a state of poverty and are getting killed due to insurgency is a matter of “public and national security interests,” which should not be taken for granted by government leaders and regard everything as normal.
The sugar mill served hinterland farmers for 40 years, but was mothballed in 2008, and is now a rotting economic facility.
Parpa said the Ombudsman should exercise its role to “protect the citizens against the injustices committed by civil officials.”
He stressed that Ombudsman Samuel Martires should put the weight of the legal and moral authority of his Office over NSA and OPAPRU, to comply with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) referrals to “evaluate the merit” of the petition of Dacongcogon farmers, which is supported by the resolutions of their Sangguniang Barangays, Sangguniang Bayan of Candoni, all mayors of southern Negros.
It is unfortunate that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is unaware of the real happenings in Negros, and who is inaccessible to hinterland farmers as an “unreachable star.” Parpa pointed out.*
