Peasant group condemns arrest of organic farming volunteer in Panay

The left-wing peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) and Tanggol Magsasaka (Peasant Network for Land, Justice and Human Rights) condemned the latest of string of illegal arrests, now at Iloilo City victimizing Cirila Estrada, 49 years old, a volunteer of organic farming for Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (Pamanggas - Panay, Alliance of Farmers in Panay and Guimaras). Pamanggas – Panay is the regional chapter of KMP in the said region. Elements of police and military operatives in civilian clothes arrested her on February 12 at the corner of Iznart and De Leon streets of the said city, blindfolded her and was pushed inside a van.

“We totally condemn this abuse, police and military are arresting almost everyone nowadays. This time, Cirila Estrada, a volunteer of organic farming who trains peasant-members of Pamanggas – Panay,” said Antonio Flores, KMP Spokesperson and Tanggol Magsasaka Co-Convenor.

The military has accused of her of carrying a caliber .22 shortarm and a hand grenade which Estrada totally denied as she has no purpose to do so. Estrada claimed that she was in the city to go to a clinic to have a check-up for her asthma and liver ailments. The 3rd Infantry Division of the Phil. Army used several arrest warrants for charges of multiple murder, frustrated murder and robbery with physical injury for alleged crimes committed in Antique province and southern Iloilo since the 1990s. They are also accusing her of being a top-ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Panay.

“They are now again using fabricated charges just to keep militants in jail, this time, a sickly agriculturist. This is just a week after the arrest of the 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal province,” said Flores.

Moreover, Lucia Capadocio, Pamanggas – Panay Secretary-General said “she was our volunteer who helped in training farmers on organic farming and raising productivity of farms. It's shameful why they are linking her to these baseless charges.”

Capadocio also said that Estrada’s arrest seems to be part of a pattern to intimidate members of militant people’s organizations through the accusations of fabricated charges. KMP believed that the military is aiming to hamper their organizing work and electoral campaign for Anakpawis Partylist, senatoriables Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza.

“The military could not get anyone but those helpless then projecting them as high-ranking leaders of CPP-NPA to claim accomplishment and corresponding rewards,” said Flores.

“The people should know by now that the military is ruling the country at present, from Morong, Rizal abducting and torturing 43 health workers, defying the Supreme Court’s order to present them in court, now, arresting a sickly organic farming volunteer in Iloilo City. This is an outrage and farmers from different regions and people from various sectors should support the call for the immediate release of Cirila Estrada,” Flores called. #