Farmers hit PH special envoy to Gulf states for agri deal

MANILA, Philippines—A peasant group on Friday urged the House of Representatives’ agrarian reform and agriculture committees to investigate a $300-million agricultural land lease deal inked by Amable Aguiluz V, a special envoy to the Gulf states, and the government of Bahrain.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas urged the House committees concerned to shoot down the deal, which allots a 10,000-hectare area in Davao del Norte province in Mindanao to produce food crops for Bahrain.

KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos referred to a joint venture, called “RP Harvest,” between the Aguiluz family’s AMA Group Holdings and Bahrain’s Hassan Group to cultivate bananas, rice and other crops in Mindanao. He said it was launched two years ago ostensibly  “to ensure Bahrain’s food security and promote the agribusiness sector.”

‘Totally revolting’

“This so-called joint venture smacks of land-grabbing and conflict of interest on the part of President Aquino’s political lieutenant in the Gulf,” Ramos charged.

“It is totally revolting that our lands are being devoted to the food security needs of other nations while the Filipino farmers suffer increasing landlessness, hunger, and poverty,” said Ramos.

“Ambassador Aguiluz, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Agrarian Reform have a lot of explaining to do regarding this massive sell-out of our lands. A no-holds-barred probe on Aguiluz is in order,” Ramos stressed.

“Obviously, this irresponsible and massive sell-out of our lands to foreigners is being done by the country’s political ambassadors with the blessings of the landlord President,” the peasant leader said.