PHILIPPINES: Philippine Church helps farmers fight eviction

The Catholic Prelature of Infanta has put small-scale farmers in touch with public lawyers to help them keep their homes and farms threatened by the creation of a special economic zone.

Manila lawyers from the Public Interest Law Center are preparing cases for hundreds of farmers who oppose the creation of the zone in Casiguran town, Aurora Province, said Deacon Mario Van Loon of Infanta's social action office.

President Gloria Arroyo in 2007 signed a law establishing the decentralized and self-sustaining industrial and trade zone for Filipinos or foreigners.

It allots 800 million pesos (US$17.4 million) for the creation of the Aurora Special Economic Zone (APECO) to be built in Casiguran town in a 12,000-hectare area of irrigated rice land.

The law says APECO will trigger economic growth not only in the province but also in adjoining provinces.

However, parish priest Father Jose Talaban said the law passed after only one hearing without any consultation with Casiguran residents.

He said he backs the farmers' opposition because the zone would displace them. He subsequently received death threats and "banners appeared here in March 2008 calling me a communist," Father Talaban said on the phone from Casiguran.

On June 28, his residence was shot at.

APECO chairman Vitaliano Sabalo Jr. has reportedly denied any link between the zone and the attack. He was quoted in local media saying zone officials disapprove of using violence against the project's opponents.

The Infanta clergy on July 11 issued a pastoral letter condemning the attack and calling for a review of the law creating the special economic zone.