The leaderships of both the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the House of Representatives have vowed to look into the complaints of farmers who are beneficiaries of the government's Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and the Negros Farmers Council and Negros Farmlands, Inc., in Negros Oriental.

Angel Tormon, media officer of the group said yesterday that they met with Bishop Cabillo, head of the National Social Action, an organic group under CBCP.

Former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor, who now serves as the president of the Federation of Free Farmers, also assisted the farmers.

The bishops, Tormon said, committed to look into the issue, as one of the concerns of CBCP is also the rural poor, composed mostly of farm workers.

They were also able to talk to AKBAYAN Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel who promised to look into the plight of the NFC members.

Tormon said they had also filed a complaint of various neglect and violations on the part of the provincial and regional offices of the Department of Agrarian Reform, such as on issues of non- installation of CARP beneficiaries, illegal CARP land conversion, among others.

On Monday, the group trooped to the office of DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, where a staff member told them he cannot decide for the DAR official.* JG

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