09/02/2013 (AllVoices) - An international alliance peasant movements in Asia and its fraternal allies in the Philippines had asked the Philippine government to release report linking a foreign company involved in the illegal expansion of palm oil in Northern Mindanao Region.

In a press statement issued from Cagayan de Oro City, the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) pressed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to release their findings on their investigation of the illegal operation of A. Brown Company in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

KMP and APC recalled May last year, results of an indepentdent fact finding mission on the negative impacts of palm oil plantation on indigenous people communities and farming villages were forwarde to the office of environment department and the NCIP.

From May 6 to 8 last year, peasant and social activists from KMP, KMP-Northern Mindanao Region (KMP-NMR), APC, Kalumbay, Sentro Kitanglad, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) and the Pesticide Network Asia Pacific (PAN AP) conducted an International Fact Finding Mission on the effects of massive appropriation and conversion of farmlands to palm oil plantations in the region.

"Upon submission of the mission reports to DENR and NCIP, government officials made a committment to conduct a separate investigation on the operation of A Brown Company. Both offices also told that representatives of the IFFM team that they can join the investigation," said Rahmat Ajiguna, APC deputy secretary general, and member of the IFFM team.

Ajiguna lamented that last September 13, 2012 the aforesaid investigation on the A Brown Company has been conducted already and members of the mission were not informed about the investigation nor were furnished with the results of government led investigation which, according to the APC official was unusual.

“In November last year, APC and KMP formally requested for a copy of the result of the investigation.

The DENR replied twice to KMP by postal mail dated November 15, 2012 and December 17, 2012, stating that our request was referred to the Undersecretary for Field Operation office and Head Executive Assistant Office,.” according to Antonio Flores, KMP National Council Member and also a member of the IFFM team.

“In January of this year, DENR staff, verbally informed KMP that the investigation report would have to be requested by KMP from DENR Region X Office.

"But, to set the record straight, the KMP-NMR has requested DENR Region X Office for a copy of the report in October 2012 and November 2012 but they were instructed to get the report at the DENR national office. Why are they making it hard for us to get the investigation report? Are they covering-up for something? ,” exclaimed Flores.

The KMP spokesperson argued that the DENR Region X is under the direct supervision and control of DENR national office.

"Thus, it is natural that the DENR national office should have a file copy of the result of the investigation. Worst, during the IFFM, we have discovered that A. Brown Company does not have a permit to operate in the said area.

This was disclosed by DENR officials during our dialog on May 9, 2012. Thus, the company is operating illegally but why is the investigation report of the DENR and NCIP has not been released to date?," noted Ajiguna.

The APC maintainted the expansion of palm oil has been made possible through landgrabbing and land use conversion.

Farmers and indigenous peoples who have been displaced from their lands were forced to become agricultural workers in palm oil plantations. In general, palm oil expansion has brought about increased landlessness, hunger and poverty while benefitting only a few private interests. We’d like to reiterate our demands to pull-out of A. Brown from Opol and the immediate return of the indigenous peoples to their ancestral land,” ended Rahmat.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), a Forest Land Grazing Lease Agreement (FLGLA) No. 614 was granted to Paras Machinery Works Corp., represented by Victor Paras in November 1991. This agreement will expire in December 31, 2016.

In 2002, farmers reclaimed more land. At that time, Paras was no longer active in the area. Around 200 families went in but only 45 successfully reclaimed the land because General Alexander Noble, owner of a security agency hired by Paras, threatened them. These 45 households eventually founded the Sarahogon Bagocboc Farmers Association (SBFA). In the same year, DENR facilitated the formation of Kahugpongan sa Mag-uuma sa Barangay Tingalan (KMBT) and granted them CBFMA, but this group never became active.

By 2003, SBFA was successful in making the area productive for agriculture and by 2005, the area had become a thriving community.

On April 6, 2008, Gilbert Paborada, chairperson of SBFA, filed a request for stewardship with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) as measure of further establishing their rights over the lands once the Paras lease agreement expires in 2016. However, authorities told them they did not need to file a petition because they were already tilling the land.

In 2010, DENR revived KMBT and the CBFMA. In that same year, DENR conducted meetings with A. Brown along with KMBT to facilitate the entry of a palm oil plantation in the area.

In February 2011, the DENR informed members of the SBFA that Victor Paras had already issued a Special Power of Attorney to Raffy Magbanua of Nakeen Corporation, a subsidiary of A. Brown. However, no documents were presented. In the same month, the DENR convened a meeting with Barangay Tingalan officials, A. Brown representatives, members of KMBT, and other Lumads. It was declared that a palm oil plantation will be developed in the sloping areas in Tingalan. It was emphasized that those individuals or groups who will not consent, will not be forced. The company also offered to pay the farmers with P9,000 per hectare for a 25-year lease, and promised them a better life.

Many members were surprised by this announcement as they had expected their land rights to be recognized and protected by the DENR. They realized that their rights have been violated with the approval for the entry of A. Brown's subsidiaries - Nakeen Corporation and ABERDI to start palm oil plantation operations.

Furthermore, CENRO released an assessment report stating their area covers 5.18 hectares only. Paborada and SBFA members did not agree to this as it was clear that the land they petitioned was already waived to A. Brown.