Farmers organizations vow continued support to military’s call for peace

By 19th Infantry Battalion, 8ID PA
April 5, 2013

CALUBIAN, Leyte – Well-wishers of Samahan sa Mag-uuma sa Calubian (SAMACA) and Kahugpungang Mag-uuma sa San Isidro (KAMAS) vowed to support the 802nd Infantry Brigade’s call for peace during the 12th Anniversary of the so-called “Balik-uma” held at Brgy. Jubay this town on Wednesday, April 3, 2013.

The whole day celebration started with a mass presided by Rev. Allan Cenit, a minister from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) at around 10:00 a.m. This was followed by short program at about 1:00 in the afternoon with Col. Rafael Valencia, the commanding officer of the Ormoc based 802nd Infantry Brigade as guest speaker.

KAMAS and SAMACA which has nearly 2,000 followers were communist-inspired organizations according to a certain Mayang, former secretary of the decimated Northern Leyte Front of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Leyte.

For years, KAMAS and SAMACA battled over rights to farm within the thousand hectares of land owned by the “Larrazabals”. Their call was officially heard on April 3, 2001 when the “Larrazabals” offered portions of their land to be nurtured by the members.

During the activity, leaders of SAMACA and KAMAS hoped that better opportunities would come to them now that they turn away from the New People’s Army.

In his speech, Col. Valencia stressed that the military is not against the ideology of the NPA but will implement actions to rebels for them to abandon the armed struggle which had been futile for more than forty years.

It can be recalled that Col. Valencia suggested the reorganization of KAMAS and SAMACA into eight associations. Valencia also initiated visits and consultative dialogues with Local Chief Executives and appropriate government agencies for legal, administrative and financial support to the said associations.

With the support of the military, the Taglawigan Farmers Association of San Isidro, Leyte was officially registered in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) a day before the Anniversary of Balik-uma. Same support was likewise being extended by the troops of 19th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Joel Alejandro Nacnac to the farmers associations in Calubian and San Isidro, Leyte.