Local News: Protesters Seek Protection from Breakaway Group

Protesters belonging to the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas-Negros (KMP-Negros), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros (BAYAN-Negros) and Karapatan-Negros, are camping in at the grounds outside the provincial government buildings and are hoping to have a dialogue with the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) today, to ask it to intercede with the provincial government to act on their major demand for it to discipline leaders and members of the rogue breakaway group RPA-ABB who have been carrying out a series of harassments in Purok Magga, Barangay Lopez-Jaena, Sagay City in Northern Negros recently.

The protesters were referring to the burning of homes and makeshift shelters in Brgy. Lopez-Jaena and the firing of armed, breakaway members when the group went on a fact-finding mission to the area recently.
The protesters are also demanding that henceforth, the provincial government will provide protection for them. The protesters are also asking that land reform be carried out in Hda. Baldevia in the barangay.

The protesters carried out a picket yesterday and sent the letter to the SP presided over by Vice-Governor Genaro Alvarez, asking for the dialogue today. They are requesting that they be allowed to present the issues that want resolved today.

During their picket Tuesday, they were not able to talk to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. They hope to be able to dialogue with the provincial board members today, Butch Lonsado of the NFSW said.*