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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Sumilao Update: Metro Manila Leg - Day 9

The Sumilao farmers are now in a meeting to discuss the plan for Friday's Malacañang March. Earlier to day, a battery of 50 lawyers mobilized to offer their legal opinion on the matter. They said that there is nothing confusing about the case and that DAR should issue a cease and desist order "pronto" rather than finding legal excuses.

Tomorrow, former DAR secretaries Ernesto Garilao, Butch Abad and Chelly Ponce will hold a press conference at the marchers' camp. They intend to exert pressure on Pangandaman to issue a notice of coverage to the farmers.

While Gari Lazaro thinks that DAR has no brilliant lawyers, I think otherwise. Its obvious that Pangandaman is playing stupid to get out of the sticky situation he is in. The farmers clearly has a case against SMFI. The mudslinging has begun with Federation of of Philippine Industries president Jesus Arranza drawing first blood. He was obviously defending San Miguel. San Miguel knows that the sale of the land was done in bad faith. The Supreme Court was clear with the provisions for the conversion grant which Norberto Quisumbing clearly reneged on.

The Supreme Court may still be the last resort should Pangandaman fail to resolve the case. I consulted with Gari regarding some quarters pushing for a boycott of Monterey/Purefoods products, San Miguel's meat division. He said that it could be done even for just this Christmas season. He gave a specific time frame for the boycott, from December 15 to January 2, 2008.

Here is the full statement regarding the boycott:

"Bloggers Call for Boycotting of Monterey/Purefoods Products in support of Sumilao farmers. This Christmas season, December 15, 2007 to January 2, 2008. Bring down the sales of San Miguel Food, Inc. to show public support to the farmers of Bukidnon who were denied of their 144 hectares of land. Please pass to all bloggers."


Bloggers' Voice Update:

Jester-in-Exile
Pedestrian Observer
Milkolate
Vignettes
AWB-Arbet Bernardo: Sumilao Sa Metro Manila
The Equalizer: Boss Danding
The Four-eyed Journal
Oddball by Mayor Jesse Robredo: Sumilao Walk
Manila Bay Watch
Loves an Ocean
Planet Naga
Pakisama
Postcard Headlines
The Antisocial
Thirty Thousand Fishes
The Citizen On Mars
Ellen Tordesillas
Gari Lazaro
Uniffors: On Patricia Evangelsita's Column
Ibangon Ang Bayan: Ang Makabagong Lumad
Placeholder
The Equalizer:Boycott SMC's Monterey Meat
Ang Sa Wari Ko
You can show your support for the Sumilao Farmers here.

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