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AT least 10 farm workers from the Arroyo owned
Hacienda Bacan in Negros Occidental on Thursday sought the help of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in
resolving an eight-year old land dispute.
Backed by supporters and fellow
farmers from other contentious land areas, the farmers went to the
CBCP office in Intramuros, Manila to seek a dialogue with CBCP
President Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.
Renato Garay, the farm workers’
leader, said in a statement that they are seeking CBCP’s help
since this is the only institution that can convince the
distribution of land in Brgy. Guintuban, Isabela, Negros Occidental.
“We face great odds because the
landowner is related to President Arroyo and therefore very
powerful. We want the Catholic bishops to help arrange a dialogue
between us and the President,” said the farm workers’ leader,
54-year old Renato Garay.
Lagdameo and other CBCP members
had already called on the Arroyo family to distribute their
properties in two huge tracks of land in two towns in Negros
Occidental province.
--Anthony A. Vargas
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