“The Cojuangco-Aquinos are using the presence of the police and military to intimidate the farmworkers and hamper our cultivation. They are threatening us, the legitimate owners of the land based on the decision of the Supreme Court,” said Felix Nacpil Jr., AMBALA Chairperson.
The groups reiterated that the Cojuangco-Aquinos have used terror tactics to threat farmworkers and keep them under their control since the 1950s. They noted that the worst was the Hacienda Luisita Massacre on November 16, 2004 when members of police and military opened fire at striking farmworkers resulting 7 deaths and more than a hundred wounded.
“The Cojuangco-Aquinos employed a series of extra-judicial killings and massive militarization such as the setting up of military detachment at every barangay inside the hacienda. Now that the Supreme Court have decided, they are sustaining their oppressive measures against the farmworkers,” Nacpil added.
The groups said that the Cojuangco-Aquinos’ tyranny is beyond imaginable and pure evil. The farmworkers reported that Timbol ordered paid residents to set up camp yesterday but AMBALA members were able to thwart their attempt.
AMGL also reacted to the recent resignation of Atty. Joel Cadiz as Solicitor General who acted as the lawyer of the Aquino government during the oral arguments at the Supreme Court.
“We believe that the Cojuangcos had a hand to Cadiz’ resignation, as the president’s family was seriously enraged with the decision of the Supreme Court and they were blaming Aquino and his solicitor general for not able to do anything to avoid land distribution to the farmworkers,” said Joseph Canlas, AMGL Chairperson.
AMGL said that the Cojuangcos’ grand plan include the ouster of chief justice Renato Corona, appointment of justice Antonio Carpio, removal of Atty. Cadiz and the reversal of the Supreme Court decision.
“Aquino is digging his own presidency’s grave as this would be a clear betrayal of public trust. Impeaching a chief justice based on his family’s interest over Hacienda Luisita,” Canlas said.
AMGL and AMBALA continued to call on other sectors for support for their struggle as they face a very rich and powerful family who oppose fundamental social reforms and whose mentality is outdated as the medieval and feudal ages. #