Mourning a Great Loss, Honoring a Great Man

It is with deep sorrow that we received news about the June 5, 2009 murder of Renato “Ka Rene” Penas, a man who sought and practiced only peace, justice and solidarity.  Ka Rene of Sumilao, Bukidnon was a leader of many local and national non-violent struggles for agrarian reform and social justice.  In 1997, he and other members of MAPALAD participated in a historic 28-day hunger strike for land.  As a trained community organizer-paralegal, he led in 2007 the unprecedented 1,700- kilometer walk of 55 farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon to Malacanang to fight for their 144-hectare ancestral land. In 2008, he was the organizer-trainer of the successful 444-kilometer Banasi farmers walk from Bula, Camarines Sur to Malacanang, which reversed an earlier adverse decision of the Office of the President. These past two months, Ka Rene was leading farmer groups in a coalition campaign to push CARPER.  Let us honor the heroism of Ka Rene and draw inspiration and strength from his life in order to continue the fight for agrarian reform and social justice.

It is with deep sorrow that we received news about the June 5, 2009 murder by unknown assailants of Renato “Ka Rene” Penas, a man who sought and practiced only peace, justice and solidarity. In the words of his son, Noland, “Tinuruan kami ni Papa na maging patas lagi at lumaban sa mapayapang paraan. Hindi siya kahit kailan nanlamang sa kapwa. Hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit ginanon si Papa”. Ka Rene of Sumilao, Bukidnon was a leader of many local and national non-violent struggles for agrarian reform and social justice.  In 1997, he and other members of the MAPALAD organization participated in a historic 28-day hunger strike for land.  As a trained community organizer-paralegal, he led in 2007, the unprecedented and successful 1,700- kilometer walk of 55 farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon to Malacanang to fight for their 144-hectare ancestral land.  After getting their land, Ka Rene made his farm productive, but he did not stop there.  In 2008, he was the organizer-trainer of the successful 444-kilometer Banasi farmers walk from Bula, Camarines Sur to Malacanang, which reversed an earlier adverse decision of the Office of the President. During the past two months, Ka Rene was leading farmer groups in a coalition campaign to push Congress to enact the extension and reform of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP (CARPER).

Ka Rene was a leader of their provincial farmers organization, PALAMBU, and the national vice president of the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA).

On May 30, he went home for a barangay council meeting and to attend to his children’s school enrollment, intending to return to Metro Manila for the campaign for CARPER as soon as possible. He was jubilant to learn that the CARPER bills were finally approved by both houses of Congress last June 3 and would soon be passed into law.  And then he was treacherously killed.

We extend our heart-felt condolences to his wife, four children and other family members and also to his brothers and sisters in PALAMBU, PAKISAMA and other organizations.

Let us honor the heroism of Ka Rene and draw inspiration and strength from his life in order to continue the fight for agrarian reform and social justice.-0-