Rafael "Ka Paeng" Vitriolo Mariano (born October 24,1956) is a Filipino activist and politician. He is a former member of the House of Representatives for Anakpawis,serving from 2004 to 2013. He is also the chairman of the farmers militant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).[1]
Mariano was born on October 24,1956,to a poor family in the municipality of Quezon,Nueva Ecija. He was a farmer who took up agriculture and agri-cooperatives at the Wesleyan University and Christian College of the Philippines (formerly Liwag Colleges) in Cabanatuan. He was not able to graduate from both institutions due to financial difficulties and his father's illness.[4]
Mariano joined the Bisig ng Kabataan (Youth Arm),a local youth activist organization,when he was 20 years old. He was elected as councilor of Quezon,Nueva Ecija five years later in 1981. He became the regional vice chairman of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (Central Luzon Farmers' Alliance) in 1984 and as secretary-general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Farmers' Movement of the Philippines) in 1985. He later served as the movement's national vice chairman and national chairperson. He was among the survivors of the 1987 Mendiola massacre.[4]
In 1998,he assumed the chairmanship of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. He was nominated to the Anakpawis party-list in the 2004 general elections and served as the party's representative in the Philippine House of Representatives until 2013. During his term,he pressed for the passage of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill which aimed to distribute land to farmers for free. He was one of five progressive legislators who were detained for 2 months in 2006 in the Batasang Pambansa Complex on charges of plotting to overthrow the government of then President Gloria Arroyo.[4]
Secretary of Agrarian Reform
Following his victory in the 2016 elections,President Rodrigo Duterte offered cabinet positions to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.[5] The NDFP declined the offer and instead nominated who they felt were qualified candidates. The NDFP nominated Mariano for the position of Secretary of Agrarian Reform[6] which Duterte accepted at the start of his term.
Mariano served as DAR Secretary from July 2016 to September 2017. As DAR Secretary,Mariano spearheaded initiatives for land distribution and supported calls for genuine agrarian reform,including land distribution in Hacienda Luisita.[7][8]
He was removed following the rejection of his interim appointment by the Commission on Appointments.[9] Malacanang was said to "regret" the CA's decision to reject Mariano's appointment.[10]
Mariano,speaking in front of Central Luzon farmers who camped out outside the Department of Agrarian Reform
Post-Secretaryship
Mariano remained a major figure in the struggle of Philippine peasants for genuine land reform. He became the chairperson emeritus of KMP and a staunch critic of both the Duterte and Marcos Jr. administrations.
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