Akbayan to CA: Reject Castriciones

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Farmer leaders of Akbayan Party-List trooped to the Senate gates on Tuesday to urge members of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) to reject John Castriciones as the Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Members of Akbayan brought giant thumbs-down signs to the Senate to show their disapproval over the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint Castriciones.

Akbayan demanded the CA to reject Castriciones for his anti-farmer stances, some of which came out during the hearings of the Commission.

In previous speeches, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin pointed out Castriciones' flaws including continuing the cancellation of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards, his inaction in installing agrarian reform beneficaries to their land, and his approval of land conversion which is a deadly scheme against farmers.

"Naniniwala kami na ang dapat maupo bilang kalihim ng DAR ay mga lider na may malasakit para sa mga magsasaka at hindi matatakot na tumindig para sa hustisya na tatlong dekada na nating ipinaglalaban," Sumilao farmer leader and Akbayan nominee Yoyong Merida said.

"Malinaw ang panawagan namin sa mga miyembro ng CA: huwag maging traydor sa mga magsasaka. Piliin lamang ang isang kalihim na papanig sa interes ng mga magsasaka na siyang mandato ng DAR," Merida added.

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