Centro Saka, Inc. (CSI), a farmer-based, policy research non-government organization, today strongly condemned the landlord-legislators in the House of Representatives for blocking the passage of a bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). CSI issued the statement in reaction to the premature adjournment of the plenary debates on the proposed CARP extension legislation

CSI said that the landlord-solons, which include Negros Representatives Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo, Alfredo Marañon III, and Jeffrey Ferrer, were obviously delaying the passage of CARP extension by their continual call for suspension of the house sessions. "Instead of engaging their peers in a debate on the issue, these solons have been citing the lack of a quorum to suspend the deliberations. They have done this four times already despite complaints raised by the party list representatives,"  explained CSI's Eugene Tecson.

After the House Speaker granted the request for suspension filed by the landlord solons yesterday, Rep. Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel implored the members of the House to continue the plenary discussions of the CARP Extension Bill, and to put the issue to a vote immediately given the urgency of the issue. Her stance was supported by Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero III who challenged his colleagues to engage them in a debate.

Deliberations did resume but the House began to discuss an entirely different House Bill. This prompted AMIN Party List Rep. Mujiv Hataman to question the motives of his colleagues, "Why is it that there is suddenly a quorum when it was declared just moments ago, when the deliberations were on the CARP extension, that there was no quorum?" Hataman was obviously exasperated at the shameless machinations and delaying tactics of the landlord solons.

"These landlord-solons obviously have no sense of responsibility when it comes to issues affecting the landless farmers and farm workers. They are bereft of any appreciation of social justice and the social reform agenda. Instead of upholding the rights of impoverished farmers to own and cultivate their own lands, these supposedly honorable gentlemen are merely protecting the interests of a few, influential, big landowners," added Tecson.

CSI also scored House Speaker Prospero Nograles for failing to ensure the speedy passage of the CARP extension bill in the Lower House. Tecson said that, "the House Speaker during the course of the plenary debates has not shown the leadership required to facilitate the enactment of the bill. Farmers will hold him as well as his landlord-cohorts accountable if they fail to pass the CARP extension bill by June 10."