Cardinal Tagle meets with Casiguran marchers last December 10 at the Ateneo.
MANILA, April 15, 2013— After four months of waiting, Casiguran locals who marched 357 kilometers to Manila last December are going to back to press Malacañang to fulfill its promise to look into their concerns against the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (Apeco).
The 120 farmers, fishermen, and indigenous peoples will stage their “Lakad Katarungan, Lakad Matuwid na Daan” starting on Tuesday. They are expected to arrive in Manila on April 22.
The protesters will be travelling by caravan and foot throughout central Luzon and Manila including Casiguran parish priest Fr. Joefran Talaban.
“They are going back with their stories of growing unrest at the government’s non-fulfillment of most of its pledges,” Talaban said.
Since their meeting with President Benigno Aquino III last December, he alleged that Apeco continued to commit violations such as illegal land conversions and illegal logging.
In that 6-day journey, the Casiguran marchers will be visiting Baler, Baguio, San Jose City, Pampanga, and Bulacan.
They will also be making key stops at the Supreme Court office in Baguio City, where a legal case against Apeco is ongoing, and regional government offices in San Fernando.
The marchers are expected to arrive in Metro Manila by April 22, where they will remain until their demands for land titles, a credible economic review of Apeco, and a moratorium on Apeco’s budget are met by the government. (Roy Lagarde)
