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Leaps
and
Milestones |
Ordeals
and
Sacrifices |
Ideological
Stance |
National Milieu |
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1973
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73-82. FFF is instrumental in the
issuance of various laws such as P.D. No. 3l6 and
subsequent amendatory laws (penalizing harassment/
ejectment of tenant-farmers), P.D. No. 946
(prescribing new rules of procedure in agrarian
courts), Letter of Instructions No. 474 (mandating
zero-retention in tenanted rice/corn lands under
certain conditions), L.O.I. No. l260 (establishing
the Integrated Social Forestry Program), P.D. No.
1467 (establishing the Philippine Crop Insurance
Program), Executive Order No. 561 (creating the
Commission on the Settlement of Land Problems), and
E.O. 621(creating the Bureau of Rural Workers under
the Department of Labor). |
Things come to a head during the NPB
meeting in Palo, Leyte when several board
members/leaders are arrested by military agents on
grounds of national security. The NPB grants
“emergency powers” to the president, Jeremias
Montemayor, and ratifies his decision to separate
some 20 officers from the FFF. This development is
negatively received by several erstwhile supporters
of the FFF. Externally, the
martial law regime pushes the nationwide
organization of pre-cooperative associations called
Sama-hang Nayon, which some FFF leaders interpret as
part of an over-all plan to weaken or eliminate
farmers’ organizations potentially or actually
opposed to Marcos. The FFF takes the lead in working
with other cooperatives and peasant organizations to
preserve their autonomy and existence. |
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1974 |
FFF becomes a founding member of the
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
Jeremias U. Montemayor is elected one of the vice
presidents. |
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1975 |
75-80. A nationwide revitalization program is
carried out through refresher seminars for members
and leaders and social awareness seminars for other
sectoral groups (including the police and the
military). In these seminars, dialogues between
farmers and government representatives are held to
present and secure action on members' concerns.
The FFCI decentralizes and becomes
the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives,
Inc.(FFFCI). |
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1978
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FFF gives advise and support to Col. Virgilio David,
military supervisor of the Philippine Coconut
Authority, who exposes the coconut levy “scam”.
Jeremias U. Montemayor is elected
Assemblyman, representing Region I, to the Interim
Batasang Pambansa (IBP). |
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1979 |
FFF lawyer Camilo Sabio files an impeachment case
against Supreme Court Justice Antonio Barredo in
connection with the FFF’s “Swindle of the Century”
case against Victorias Milling Company. |
The martial law government initiates the
organization of another group based on agrarian
reform beneficiaries, apparently in reaction to
FFF’s growing criticism of the defective
implementation of agrarian reform. |
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Interim Batasang Pambansa is inaugurated under a
semi-parliamentary system. |
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1980
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FFF is founding member of the
National Congress of Farmers Organizations (NCFO).
Jeremias Montemayor is elected its first President.
NCFO later on forges a Solidarity Agreement with
TUCP. |
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1981 |
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President Marcos formally lifts
martial law, but retains stand-by legislative
powers. |
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1983 |
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Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino is
assassinated, lighting the fuse of national upheaval |
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1984 |
A national plebiscite approves an
amendment, introduced by Assemblyman Montemayor, to
the Constitution, mandating the State to formulate
and implement agrarian and urban land reform and
housing programs. |
Jeremias Montemayor loses re-election
in the Batasang Pambansa elections due to “junking”.
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1986 |
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Jeremias Montemayor declines the
invitation to nominate – on behalf of the peasant
sector – President Marcos as Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
candidate in the snap presidential elections. The
FFF takes a neutral stance in the elections. |
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The “People Power” revolt at EDSA
brings Cory Aquino into power. |
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1987 |
Jeremias Montemayor seeks a
Senatorial seat during the 1987 elections. |
Jeremias Montemayor runs, and loses,
in the senatorial elections as an opposition
candidate. |
FFF adopts a policy of greater
organizational self-reliance. |
87-92. A new Constitution is
approved. The Aquino administration is wracked by
several coup attempts. |
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