Guv disowns memo agitating farmers

MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano on Sunday denied he issued a memorandum aimed at agitating beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as well as farmers affected by the prolonged dry spell so they would join a mass action to demand for aid.

Emano said it reached his attention that an alleged memorandum from his office agitating beneficiaries of the 4Ps program and farmers to join a massive protest was in circulation.

His statement reads: “Despite all these prevailing factors, I am an advocate for the respect of the law. I do recognize the right of every citizen to seek relief for any wrong or injustices they feel they are victims of. However, agitating the most affected sectors of our society to the edge of lawlessness is not a responsible way of pushing our citizens to claim their rights which they must have in the first place.”

Emano added: “My office has not issued any memorandum to that effect. However, in the light of the present electoral campaign, I am sad to note that this could be an act of my political enemies to smear my name in their state of desperation.”

He said that as a farmer, he knows the “anguish and pain looking at a parched land, dry wells and dead animals. I believe they deserve all the help now, not tomorrow.”

Emano, who has a degree in agriculture, is into farming.

When El Niño was first reported to hit the province this part of the year, Emano said, he anticipated that farmers would be the first to feel the effects and would be the most affected.

He said government agencies with the mandate and authority to help have very few options.

He said that on top of these options is to give the farmers immediately all the basics of survival while waiting for the rains to come.

“I believe this must be the right step to take. But agitating a helpless sector to the edge of lawlessness is the height of stupidity for any government official,” Emano said. (jv)