Manila, Philippines – Farmers picketed the San Miguel Corp. (SMC) main office to protest the alleged landgrabbing of more than 300 hectares of land in Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan for the benefit of SMC-controlled Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7.
Officials and members of the Sandigan Samahang Magsasaka (Sasamag), Tungkong Mangga Upland Farmers Association Inc. (TMUFAI), and Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Dalandanan (Samagda) claimed said that four of the country’s biggest landlords are trying to secure land already covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) way back in 1998.
The MRT-7 will be constructed and operated by SMC, which is owned by President Benigno S. Aquino III’s uncle, Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., and the Universal LRT Corp. On the other hand, the commercial and residential components of MRT-7 will be led by Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II’s family, which owns Araneta Properties, and Henry Sy’s SM Land. (Marvyn N. Benaning)