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Lakbay Magsasaka 2017 or in full "Pambansang Lakbayan ng Magsasaka para sa Lupa at Laban sa Pasismo" is a people's campaign, primarily led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines), with the aim of putting extra-judicial killings against farmers and agrarian reform concern in the national level of public opinion. It is also demanding the immediate stop to killing of farmers, as well as free distribution of land, as denoted by their nationwide campaign to occupy haciendas and plantations controlled by big landlords and foreign monopoly corporations.

Agrarian Reform Agenda
The demand of the country's peasant movement began in February 2016, when it hosted a presidential debate at the University of the Philippines - Diliman campus, where then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, criticized the expired agrarian reform law Republic Act No. 6657 or Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and claimed "it was a farce" because there was actually no support from the government. He stressed that government support for farmers should be adequate and he initialed it by declaring that irrigation services should be free of charge to farmers.

He also promised to address human rights abuses against farmers through peace talks, especially in Mindanao where there is a heightened armed conflict between government forces and the New People's Army (NPA).

In relation to his promise, he appointed the then-National Chairperson of KMP and long-time peasant leader Rafael "Ka Paeng" Mariano as secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform, before his formal proclamation as president.

Farmers supported Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address
In July 2016, thousands of farmers from across the country marched and joined the mass actions coinciding Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA), but organizers claimed that it was not a protest action, but merely challenging him to fulfill his promises of fundamental reforms in the country. Farmers under KMP, including the 5,000-strong contingent from Mindanao are demanding a new agrarian reform law for a free distribution of land and the continued pursuance of the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Farmers led by KMP, supported by multi-sectoral formations such as Pagkakaisa Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (PATRIA) and Philippine Land Reform Movement (PLRM) were pushing Duterte to immediate enact a new agrarian reform law that will decisively replace the expired CARP law. They are demanding the enactment of House Bill No. 555 - Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) filed by Anakpawis Party-list Representative Ariel "Ka Ayik" Casilao and other lawmakers under the Makabayan Coalition. The said bill is proposing free distribution of land to poor farmers, as well as Filipinization of plantations controlled by big agro-corporations such as Lapanday and Tadeco.

Killing of farmers unabated
Though promised to fulfill reforms in the countryside and appointing a former peasant activists as member of his cabinet, killing of peasant activists continued. Farmers groups blamed the abuses on Duterte's continuation of his predecessor's counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan being implemented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), that systematically accused farmers as members or supporters of the NPA and targets them through extra-judicial killings, as well as, the government's inaction against violent attacks perpetrated by despotic landlords against peasants who are asserting their rights on the land. In Mindanao, human rights groups condemned the continued killings which reached to 8 cases as of December 2016.

Entering 2017, the Duterte administration came out with its own version of a counter-insurgency program Oplan Kapayapaan. . But activists claimed that it was a rehash and modification of its past version, that will eventually lead to more rights abuses such as extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and militarization of farmer communities.

Since Duterte's presidency until the end of 2016, Karapatan human rights group documented 19 cases of extra-judicial killings of which all victims belong to the peasant sector, mostly in Mindanao (13 cases), including 9 from the indigenous people.

On the first quarter of the year, killings against farmers remained unabated, thus, triggering peasant activists and multi-sectoral groups to step up its protest as it reported that "a farmer is killed every two days," as of end of March. Correspondingly, Anakpawis Party-list through its representative in congress filed House Resolution No. 916 urging Duterte to put a stop to killings of farmers. The resolution stated that there were 44 farmers who fell victims to extra-judicial killings since the Duterte presidency. It also mentioned that many farmers were killed in February 2017, reaching to 14 victims.

Farmers groups also condemned not just the killings, but the actual killings of peasant couples such as the case Ramon and Leonila Pesadilla on March 2 in Compostela Valley and Jezreel and Dalia Arrabis on September 2 in Davao City. The Pesadilla case was highlighted as they actually donated part of their land to be used for the lumad school.

As the peasant movement see no improvement or commitment from Duterte to seriously address the killings, they are now holding him primarily responsible for the continued atrocities in the countryside, given that he is intensifying his all-out war policy against the NPA, where AFP units are already conducting aerial bombings of farmer communities, that exposes his fascist tendencies. Moreover, immediately after his second SONA, he threatened to bomb lumad schools in Mindanao, as he alleged that they are structures of the NPA.

Farmer killings under Duterte, worse than predecessors'
The Karapatan human rights group publicized their report of documented extra-judicial killings under the Duterte presidency and showed that as of September 2017, there were already 91 farmers who fell victims to extra-judicial killings. It also reported the total farmers killed under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration at 603 victims, and under Aquino administration at 207 victims. In relation, farmers under Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bikol who were holding their protest caravan in Bicol region criticized Duterte as his monthly kill rate of 6 victims is worse than Aquino's 4 and Arroyo's 5. The group also said that his annual average of victims reached 73, more than Arroyo's 64 and Aquino's 45. In Bicol alone, 24 farmers were already killed, 17 among them were from Sorsogon province.

List of names of killed farmers from July 2016 to September 2017 as documented by Karapatan human rights group

 * 1) Hermi Alegre, Davao, 15-July-2016
 * 2) Remar Mayantao, Bukidnon, 16-July-2016
 * 3) Rogen Suminao, Bukidnon, 16-July-2016
 * 4) Senon Nacaytuna, Bukidnon, 16-July-2016
 * 5) Makenet Gayoran, Bukidnon, 30-July-2016
 * 6) Jerry "Dandan" Layola, Agusan del Sur, 12-August-2016
 * 7) Jimmy Barosa, Agusan del Sur, 12-August-2016
 * 8) Jessybel Sanchez, Davao del Norte, 14-August-2016
 * 9) Elmer Del Rosario, Misamis Occidental, 19-August-2016
 * 10) Gaudencio Bagalay, Nueva Ecija, 03-September-2016
 * 11) Emerenciana "Baby" Dela Rosa, Nueva Ecija, 03-September-2016
 * 12) Violeta De Leon, Nueva Ecija, 03-September-2016
 * 13) Eligio Barbado, Nueva Ecija, 03-September-2016
 * 14) Ariel Diaz, Isabela, 07-September-2016
 * 15) Totong Gascon, Cotabato, 13-September-2016
 * 16) Rita Gascon, Cotabato, 13-September-2016
 * 17) Jimmy Saypan, Compostela Valley, 10-October-2016
 * 18) Joselito "Anoy" Pasaporte , Compostela Valley, 13-October-2016
 * 19) Jimmy Sotto, Pampanga, 24-December-2016
 * 20) Venie Diamante, South Cotabato, 05-January-2017
 * 21) Alexander Ceballos, Negros Occidental, 20-January-2017
 * 22) Veronico Delamente, Surigao del Norte, 20-January-2017
 * 23) Wencislao Pacquiao, Negros Occidental, 25-January-2017
 * 24) Renato Anglao, Bukidnon, 03-February-2017
 * 25) Matanem Pocuan, Bukidnon, 04-February-2017
 * 26) Emelito Rotimas, Compostela Valley, 06-February-2017
 * 27) Pipito Tiambong, Agusan del Norte, 11-February-2017
 * 28) Jerson Bito, Agusan del Norte, 11-February-2017
 * 29) Orlando Eslana, Capiz, 11-February-2017
 * 30) Edweno "Edwin" Catog, Compostela Valley, 16-February-2017
 * 31) Roel Rico Satingasin, Davao, 16-February-2017
 * 32) Ariel Gelbero, Davao City, 16-February-2017
 * 33) Willerme Agorde, North Cotabato, 19-February-2017
 * 34) Ian Borres, Capiz, 24-February-2017
 * 35) Lorendo Borres, Capiz, 24-February-2017
 * 36) Gilbert Bancat, Quezon, 25-February-2017
 * 37) Leonila Pesadilla, Compostela Valley, 02-March-2017
 * 38) Ramon Pesadilla, Compostela Valley, 02-March-2017
 * 39) Billamin Hassan, Basilan, 08-March-2017
 * 40) Nurrudin Muhlis, Basilan, 08-March-2017
 * 41) Pedro Pandagay, Compostela Valley, 23-March-2017
 * 42) Arman Almonicar, Compostela Valley, 27-March-2017
 * 43) Arlene Almonicar, Compostela Valley, 27-March-2017
 * 44) Cora Lina, Compostela Valley, 27-March-2017
 * 45) Renel Miraballes, Camarines Sur, 30-March-2017
 * 46) Danilo Nadal, Compostela Valley, 02-April-2017
 * 47) Elias Pureza, Davao del Norte, 06-April-2017
 * 48) Bernardo Ripdos, Compostela Valley, 08-April-2017
 * 49) Constancio Petalco, Bohol, 11-April-2017
 * 50) Crisanta Petalco, Bohol, 11-April-2017
 * 51) Rodolfo Tagalog Jr., Masbate, 15-April-2017
 * 52) Jerry Cuyos, Masbate, 15-April-2017
 * 53) Josel Rosales, Masbate, 15-April-2017
 * 54) Lolita Pepito, Masbate, 20-April-2017
 * 55) Rechely Luna, Masbate, 20-April-2017
 * 56) Reden Luna, Masbate, 20-April-2017
 * 57) Federico Plaza, Compostela Valley, 03-May-2017
 * 58) Rodolfo Dagahuya Jr., Davao, 09-May-2017
 * 59) Idris Rascal, Lanao del Sur, 23-May-2017
 * 60) Jalal Rascal, Lanao del Sur, 23-May-2017
 * 61) Abdullah Mamansag, North Cotabato, 25-May-2017
 * 62) Daniol Lasib, Davao del Sur, 26-May-2017
 * 63) Ana Marie Aumada, Davao Oriental, 27-May-2017
 * 64) Jessie Cabeza, Compostela Valley, 31-May-2017
 * 65) Lito Casalla, Batangas, 03-June-2017
 * 66) Jaynudin Amiludin, Maguindanao, 08-June-2017
 * 67) Joseph Baning, Camarines Norte, 01-July-2017
 * 68) Ande Latuan, Bukidnon, 06-July-2017
 * 69) Meliton Catampungan, Surigao del Norte, 10-July-2017
 * 70) Remond Lino, Compostela Valley, 12-July-2017
 * 71) Carolina Arado, Compostela Valley, 13-July-2017
 * 72) Silvestre Maratas, Surigao del Sur, 16-July-2017
 * 73) Mario Castro, Nueva Ecija, 20-July-2017
 * 74) Catalina Castro, Nueva Ecija, 20-July-2017
 * 75) Alberto "Leboy" Tecson, Negros Oriental, 24-July-2017
 * 76) Arnel Borres, Sorsogon, 28-July-2017
 * 77) Dick Laura, Sorsogon, 28-July-2017
 * 78) Eddie Alyawan, Compostela Valley, 12-August-2017
 * 79) Roger "Titing" Timboco, Compostela Valley, 23-August-2017
 * 80) Crisologo "Celso" Alambra, Pangasinan, 25-August-2017
 * 81) Marcelo "Mar" Perico, Pangasinan, 25-August-2017
 * 82) Arthuro Galvez, Pangasinan, 25-August-2017
 * 83) Thelma Albanio, Pangasinan, 25-August-2017
 * 84) Lomer Gerodias, Compostela Valley, 27-August-2017
 * 85) Rogelio Mendoza, Isabela, 28-August-2017
 * 86) Rolito Mendoza, Isabela, 28-August-2017
 * 87) Jezreel Arrabis, Davao del Sur, 02-September-2017
 * 88) Dalia Arrabis, Davao del Sur, 02-September-2017
 * 89) Obello Bay-ao, Davao Del Norte, 05-September-2017
 * 90) Luardo Yac, Negros Oriental, 07-September-2017
 * 91) Reneboy Magayano, Compostela Valley, 28-September-2017

October farmers' mass actions
The Filipino peasant movement marks October as a peasant month due to the anniversary of the Presidential Decree 27 martial law-era agrarian reform program signed by late-strongman and dictator Ferdinand Marcos on October 21, 1972. Groups affiliated with KMP, such as Amihan, Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Pamalakaya-Pilipnas, hold protests on October 15 World Food Day and October 16 International Rural Women's Day. Hundreds of farmers marched to Mendiola bridge in Manila, to oppose the neoliberal policies of the Duterte administration such as continued rice importation and promotion of agro-chemical products marketed by foreign monopoly corporatiosn, as well as, the continuing fascist attacks against farmers in the countryside.

Church-farmer formation against tyranny
On October 19, a multi-sectoral coalition, including farmers' groups, religious leaders and other cause-oriented groups formed the Coalition for Land, Against Martial Law and Oppression (Clamor) at the office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in Manila. The formation included as convenors, former agrarian reform secretary Rafael "Ka Paeng" Mariano, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines leader Sr. Elenita Belardo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, Jr and National Council of Churches in the Philippines Secretary-General Reuel Marigza.

Clamor is the peasant sector formation, analogous to the Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) that led the tens of thousand-strong protest action on September 21 in Luneta against the trumpeted martial law declaration of Duterte and political alliance with the Marcoses.

Lakbay Magsasaka
Lakbay Magsasaka is the protest caravan of farmers' groups from various regions towards Manila to demand a genuine agrarian reform program, protection of their rights to land and end to fascist attacks against the sector in the countryside. It was precursored by the various land occupation activities such as in Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac, Hacienda Uy in Quezon, Cavite, Bataan, various haciendas in provinces of Bicol Eastern Visayas, Negros, Panay, Tagum City in Davao Del Norte, and lands controlled by Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Bukidnon and other parts of Davao region.

Farmers from Mindanao
Already camping out in front of the office of DAR in Quezon City as of October 21, were hundreds of farmers under the Bukidnon Free Farmers Association and Laborers Organization (BUFFALO), Tried Agricultural Movers Association of Rural Active Workers (TAMARAW), and the Landless Tillers Inhabitants of Musuan (LIMUS)—collectively known as BTL from Bukidnon and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries One Movement (ARB One) from the Davao region. BTL farmers who launched their version of protest caravan dubbed as "Baktas BTL", have been cultivating about 500-hectares controlled by CMU as educational reserve and they are pressing DAR to intervene in their favor. Members of ARB One include those former ARBs and farm-workers in plantation lands controlled by Lapanday and Tagum Development Corporation (TADECO) in Davao Del Norte. They are pushing for individual land distribution as former DAR leadership facilitated the lease-back arrangements that waived their right as farmer-beneficiaries of CARP.

Lakbayan ng Visayas
In Cebu, more than two thousand farmers from the Visayan islands of Negros, Iloilo, Bohol held their week-long "Lakbayan ng Visayas" and barraged the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Agriculture. Sugar workers belonging to National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) lambasted DOLE for its failure to ensure that sugar amelioration funds (SAF) be distributed to poor farmworkers working on hacienda lands in Negros, while farmers from Bohol and Cebu protested against rampant land use conversion, and continuing charging of irrigation service by NIA and displacement of fisherfolk communities due to reclamation. They concluded their massive protest actions in front of the headquarters of the Central Command of the AFP and Commission on Human Rights, for continued fascist attacks on farmer communities and the inaction of the latter.

Lakbay Paraoma
In Bicol, farmers belonging to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bikol (KMB), commenced their mass actions in various provinces, demanding genuine agrarian reform and stop to human rights violations in the countryside. It was dubbed as "Lakbay Paraoma" (paraoma as farmer). They also protested in Naga City, in front of office of NIA, to oppose the continuing charging of irrigation service fees on farmers.

They are demanding the immediate and free distribution of hacienda lands in Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Camarines Norte. They are also waging land occupation campaigns in hacienda Bulaong, Federis, Abella, Gimenez, Almeda, Delvo Estate and Guballa Land Property in Camarines Sur. In Sorsogon, farmers are cultivating lands part of Hacienda Beruenger and Peralta. In Masbate, farmers will cultivate about 250-hectares of land in Deagan islands.

Mobilization at Mendiola bridge, Manila
Near 10,000 farmers and activists from different people's organizations joined the culmination protest of Lakbayan Magsasaka on October 25. From the north of Luzon contingent, were farmers from Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac, Hacienda Dolores in Pampanga, different haciendas and estates in Nueva Ecija, farmers from Isabela, and Cagayan Valley and Ilocos regions.