{"id":1382,"date":"2021-06-10T19:04:01","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T11:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csspsinag.wordpress.com\/?p=1382"},"modified":"2021-06-10T19:04:01","modified_gmt":"2021-06-10T11:04:01","slug":"bite-the-hand-that-refuses-to-feed-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/06\/10\/bite-the-hand-that-refuses-to-feed-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Bite the hand that refuses to feed you!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Duterte has planted the seeds of terror. Now he will reap an unyielding resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the first year of his term alone, there have been 68 documented killings of farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fields of Negros Island, in particular, have been mercilessly marred with blood\u2014 a fraction spilled by the nine farmers gunned down by 40 armed men at Hacienda Nene in Sagay City, Negros Occidental back in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year later and roughly 70 miles away, 14 farmers were brutally slain at the hands of the Philippine military and police in Negros Oriental.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I write this, a total of 277 farmers and advocates have been unjustly killed during Duterte\u2019s reign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"May<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It has become common practice to lead the reportage of the Duterte administration with numbers. The horrors of the Duterte regime are articulated by statistics. And while numbers can be reflexively desensitizing, we must never forget that to speak of these statistics is to speak of needless, senseless deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such a technique is one we picked up at the start of Duterte\u2019s presidential term. Indeed, it appears to be a homage to how the war on drugs was\u2014and continues to be\u2014covered. Sadly, the resemblance does not stop there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These extrajudicial peasant killings are not isolated cases; they are systematically organized and executed in the name of counter-insurgency. The strategy employed is evocative of the drug war tactics, wherein dubious narratives have been used to justify police and military atrocities while simultaneously discrediting the victims through unfounded accusations. Some state elements have taken this a step further by making arrests based on false charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be a peasant in the Philippines is to be condemned to a life of persecution and marginalization. Those who were not killed are instead sentenced to hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a tale of irony, plucked from the pool of similar stories that compose the country\u2019s narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Philippines is rich, but the Filipinos are poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have an agricultural country, yet we import our rice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farmers labor to grow our food but are forced to starve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under Duterte\u2019s rule, the most vulnerable are given the least priority. While the government claims that they have not forgotten farmers and fisherfolk in their amelioration programs, the target beneficiaries of the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) and Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) were limited to only 1.2 million, a far cry from the 9.7 million farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihoods were disrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2021 budget alone makes it apparent that state fascism is given precedence over food security. Funds for agriculture have suffered a major cut, massively reduced to 99.6B. Meanwhile, 19.1B was allocated to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), coupled with police and military budget increases. Even with the worsening health crisis and food insecurity, the government shows no sign of halting their militarist priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what can we really expect from a government that is stranger to hunger? One who need not sweat to survive? It is telling how the Duterte administration has no trouble staining their hands with blood but would not be able to stomach the accumulation of soil under their fingernails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no future for farmers\u2014and indeed, the entire country\u2014as long as our economy remains import-dependent and export-oriented. The Rice Liberalization Law further cripples them as they are forced to compete with state-supported foreign farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These attacks on farmers are deliberate, as the traitor-in-chief and his cronies profit out of the country\u2019s hunger. Their interest is ensuring the continuous compliance to imperialist demands and dictates of the world market, local stomachs be damned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the country approaches the height of irony, the anger of the masses has similarly reached its boiling point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The life of a farmer tells a tale of irony, but it also recounts a tale of resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farmers have long persisted even as they are impaired by landlessness and dismal working conditions. They valiantly fight to own the land that is rightfully theirs. Even with death threats hanging over their heads, the peasantry\u2019s call for genuine agrarian reform has never wavered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theirs is not a defeatist but a decades-long defiant tale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This World Food Day, we are enjoined not only to honor the Filipino peasantry but to stand with them. To stand with farmers is to stand against this fascist regime, and to oust the peasant killer who rests his feet on the bended backs of the toiling farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duterte has planted the seeds of terror. Now he will reap an unyielding resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artwork by Kate Gotis.
*This article was originally published last October 16, 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Duterte has planted the seeds of terror. Now he will reap an unyielding resistance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[126],"class_list":["post-1382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","post_format-post-format-image"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/km-1.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2103,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/10\/malantic-farmers-get-cease-and-desist-order-from-up-admin-assert-right-to-till-land\/","url_meta":{"origin":1382,"position":0},"title":"Malantic farmers get cease and desist order from UP admin, assert right to till land","author":"Staff","date":"10 September 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"In a letter addressed to KNL Multipurpose Farmers, the UP admin called for a permanent halt in the activities of farmers at Malantic Bukid as such, according to the notice, have no legal basis and are considered \u201can encroachment on government property duly owned and registered under the name of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/jake-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/jake-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/jake-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/jake-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3520,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/01\/22\/bite-the-hand-that-refuses-to-feed-you-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":1382,"position":1},"title":"Bite the hand that refuses to feed you!","author":"Staff","date":"22 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The life of a farmer tells a tale of irony, but it also recounts a tale of resistance. Farmers have long persisted even as they are impaired by landlessness and dismal working conditions. They valiantly fight to own the land that is rightfully theirs. Even with death threats hanging over\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/121586011_2865934523626138_4597685691444977926_n-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/121586011_2865934523626138_4597685691444977926_n-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/121586011_2865934523626138_4597685691444977926_n-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/121586011_2865934523626138_4597685691444977926_n-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/121586011_2865934523626138_4597685691444977926_n-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/121586011_2865934523626138_4597685691444977926_n-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2904,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/10\/20\/why-the-state-not-farmers-is-a-terrorist\/","url_meta":{"origin":1382,"position":2},"title":"Why the State – not farmers – is a terrorist","author":"Staff","date":"20 October 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Meanwhile, for a middle-class student imprisoned by the individualizing remote university, the struggle for liberation by farmers must teach them that it is a collective struggle that sows the seeds of a more just, democratic, and better future where social practice and integration to the masses teach them what the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/122577264_2875257296027194_6179925654388733495_n-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/122577264_2875257296027194_6179925654388733495_n-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/122577264_2875257296027194_6179925654388733495_n-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3668,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/02\/03\/greggy-aranetas-men-gun-down-journos-advocates-and-farmers-in-a-fact-finding-mission\/","url_meta":{"origin":1382,"position":3},"title":"Greggy Araneta’s Men Gun Down Journos, Advocates, and Farmers in a Fact-Finding Mission","author":"Staff","date":"3 February 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Journalists Manuel Garcellano and Reymark Umpacan of the fact\u2010finding team were attacked by four armed men who immediately left. More than ten men arrived after around 15 minutes whose faces were covered with bonnets and masks. They were reportedly armed with handguns and high-powered rifles and harassed the journalists and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/untitled-design-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/untitled-design-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/untitled-design-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/untitled-design-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2862,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/10\/15\/rtc-dismissed-the-petition-for-habeas-corpus-over-silays-two-missing-farmers\/","url_meta":{"origin":1382,"position":4},"title":"RTC dismissed the petition for habeas corpus over Silay\u2019s two missing farmers","author":"Staff","date":"15 October 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cIf our father has done something wrong, file a case in court. But please, just let us know where they are. They are farmers, not rebels,\u201d uttered Baynes\u2019 daughter. The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 69 dismissed the petition for the writ of habeas corpus appealed by the daughters of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/sinag-web-banner-17-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/sinag-web-banner-17-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/sinag-web-banner-17-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/sinag-web-banner-17-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/sinag-web-banner-17-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/sinag-web-banner-17-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3127,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/11\/20\/army-kills-two-farmers-accused-as-npa-rebels-in-a-staged-encounter\/","url_meta":{"origin":1382,"position":5},"title":"ARMY KILLS TWO FARMERS ACCUSED AS NPA REBELS IN A STAGED ENCOUNTER\ufffc","author":"Staff","date":"20 November 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Two farmers are killed in an alleged armed encounter in Brgy. Taquico, Sampaloc, Quezon last November 17, 2021, Wednesday.\u00a0 Two farmers are killed in an alleged armed encounter in Brgy. Taquico, Sampaloc, Quezon last November 17, 2021, Wednesday.\u00a0 Reports state that Jorge Coronacion, 64 years old, and Arnold Buri, 43\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/02-sinag-logo_variation-a_black-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/02-sinag-logo_variation-a_black-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/02-sinag-logo_variation-a_black-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/02-sinag-logo_variation-a_black-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/02-sinag-logo_variation-a_black-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/02-sinag-logo_variation-a_black-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":126,"user_id":2,"is_guest":0,"slug":"emdeborja","display_name":"emdeborja","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1382\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}