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| President Duterte, an "instant" endorser of Jollibee Food Corporation when he offered food to the rallyist farmer from Davao in Mendiola -Photo credit to the owner |
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday went to Mendiola outside the Palace to meet up with farmers from Davao region who are decrying alleged landgrabbing by Lapanday Foods Corp.
Some 200 farmers have been camping out in Mendiola bridge, a common venue of protest actions, to pressure the president into acting on their demand to have Lapanday turn over 145 hectares of land to agrarian reform beneficiaries.
”Kumain na kayo ng hapunan? Ilan kayo lahat dito? Secretary Bong Go, mag-reserve ka ng 200 sa Manila Hotel. Oo nga, don kayo. Ayaw ninyo?” Duterte told the farmers, who have been camping out in Mendiola since May 1.
“Basta ‘yung naka-barong lahat doon, naka-gown, ‘wag ninyong pansinin iyon. Hindi tayo magkakilala. Magsabi ni, Mayor, dito kami magkain ng hapunan. Manila Hotel. Para makatikim kayo. Ang sabi ni Mayor, dito kami magkain ng hapunan, Manila Hotel, para makatikim kayo.”
Duterte later offered to feed the farmers with food from Philippine fast-food chain Jollibee.
“Jollibee daw… Yung may manok ha. May mga Moro dito,” the president told his aides.
The president also promised plane tickets to the farmers so they can easily return to Davao.
In a statement released after Duterte's meeting with Marbai, Lapanday said it supports Duterte's call to "ensure that the rule of law prevails and shares in his dream that opportunities for all be a lasting legacy of his administration"
"The company agrees with President Duterte that when parties understand each other and are willing to discuss the resolution of issues, the best solution is attained with no need to resort to the courts to resolve them," the statement read.
"The company shall faithfully adhere to the spirit and letter of law and calls on all parties to discuss a settlement anchored on good faith, fairness and a final mutually acceptable resolution of this problem so we can then continue to contribute to the well-being of the country."
The company said it "wants the dialogue to hopefully and finally resolve issues that pertain to the portion of the farm that is subject to the concerted action of Marbai and its supporters."
Source: News/ ABSCBN
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