Hacienda Luisita farmworkers protest against Cojuangco-Aquino
sabotage of land distribution at Times St. (Photo by AMGL)
sabotage of land distribution at Times St. (Photo by AMGL)
The Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luson (Amgl, Farmers’ Alliance in Central Luzon) and Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala, Farmworkers’ Alliance in Hacienda Luisita) criticized president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino as he and his lackey groups portrays himself as “champion of land reform” on his second year as president instead proclaimed him as an “adversary of land reform.” The groups said that Aquino’s posturing is very evident in Hacienda Luisita as he continues to deceive farmworkers and engages to various maneuvers just to retain their control over the vast land of Hacienda Luisita. About a hundred farmworkers and farmers from Hacienda Luisita and other provinces in Central Luzon held a protest vigil at Mendiola in Manila.
“There is no doubt that Aquino and his family have exerted much effort not to give up Hacienda Luisita. After the SC decision last April 24, Aquino has been successful to impeach Corona and is now occupied in appointing new chief justice that would reverse the SC decision and serve the interest of Cojuangco-Aquino family. We firmly believe that the four nominees for chief justice such as Jardeleza, internal revenue commissioner Henares, justices Carpio and Sereno would favor Aquino. Thus, we condemn this “Aquino court” that would give us another pain and poverty if the SC decision would reverse ”, Rodel Mesa said, Ambala chairperson.
Ambala and AMGL also said that the Aquino’s schemed enlistment inside Hacienda Luisita through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is obviously another machination to keep their control over Hacienda Luisita.
“The Cojuangco-Aquino family intends to spark disunity and confusion among farmworkers through the enlistment process. In Brgy. Balete and Cutcut alone they’ve interviewed 3,000 farmworkers each even if the master list only cited 6, 296 legitimate FWBs for the whole hacienda. Clearly, DAR is instigating this false hopes to farmworkers who are not officially listed,” Mesa said.
The groups reiterated that the Cojuangco-Aquino and Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) have connived with each other to repress the farmworkers’ right over the 184 hectares of land located at Brgy. Balete.
“The conspiracy between the Cojuangco-Aquino and RCBC have resulted to series of harassment, demolition of farmworkers’ camp-out and more than twenty active leaders and members of Ambala and United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU were charged of different trumped up cases such as grave coercion, malicious mischief and occupation of real property. These rights abuses were all packaged in their ‘Oplan April Spring’ which main objective is to create conflict among farmworkers and disrupt their struggle for their rights to land,” Mesa said..
The groups reiterated that the terror attacks to farmworkers is not only evident in Brgy. Balete but entirely in 10 brgys. inside Hacienda Luisita. The presence of military men and CAFGUs in every barangays have sowed fear to farmworkers and their families.
“Last June 11, two military trucks and a jeepney type vehicle loaded with military men arrived at Brgy. Asturias. Until now, they’ve conducted a regular patrol and imposed a curfew to farmworkers and residents of the said brgy. Also, they were sighted at Brgy. Texas and Cutcut. Thus, we reaffirm our call that the military must leave Hacienda Luisita now ”, Mesa stated.
“The whole world knows what Aquino and his family have done in Hacienda Luisita. Only the ignorant and those interests hanging on him and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with ‘Reforms’ would disgracefully consider him as a champion,” said Joseph Canlas, Amgl chairperson.
“Aquino has wreaked hell on farmers of the region. His continued disregard of landlessness and implementation of CARPer has worsened our plight. His carrying over of anti-farmer and anti-people programs such as the Public-Private Partnership program have displaced farmers from their land. He is plague, clouding the region with poverty and misery,” Canlas said.
“Aquino is crazy to declare himself as ‘champion of land reform’ and idiotically attempt to pick up approval from Filipino farmers. The ‘Noynoy back-up’ group Akbayan should have their sanity check to plot such an agenda, otherwise they should join Aquino at a mental institution. They should not wait for each farmer to kick them out of the region at the very sight of their leaders and agents,” he added.
Ambala and Amgl called on different sectors and groups to continuously support them on their struggle for genuine land reform in Hacienda Luisita.
“We call on sectors such as the church people to resolutely support the cause of Hacienda Luisita farmworkers. CARPer is a devil’s making as it causes poverty, hunger and death among farmers. Thus, they should support the farmworkers effort of actually cultivating the land such as the ‘bungkalan,’ and not the unfitting implementation of CARPer,” Canlas said. #
“There is no doubt that Aquino and his family have exerted much effort not to give up Hacienda Luisita. After the SC decision last April 24, Aquino has been successful to impeach Corona and is now occupied in appointing new chief justice that would reverse the SC decision and serve the interest of Cojuangco-Aquino family. We firmly believe that the four nominees for chief justice such as Jardeleza, internal revenue commissioner Henares, justices Carpio and Sereno would favor Aquino. Thus, we condemn this “Aquino court” that would give us another pain and poverty if the SC decision would reverse ”, Rodel Mesa said, Ambala chairperson.
Ambala and AMGL also said that the Aquino’s schemed enlistment inside Hacienda Luisita through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is obviously another machination to keep their control over Hacienda Luisita.
“The Cojuangco-Aquino family intends to spark disunity and confusion among farmworkers through the enlistment process. In Brgy. Balete and Cutcut alone they’ve interviewed 3,000 farmworkers each even if the master list only cited 6, 296 legitimate FWBs for the whole hacienda. Clearly, DAR is instigating this false hopes to farmworkers who are not officially listed,” Mesa said.
The groups reiterated that the Cojuangco-Aquino and Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) have connived with each other to repress the farmworkers’ right over the 184 hectares of land located at Brgy. Balete.
“The conspiracy between the Cojuangco-Aquino and RCBC have resulted to series of harassment, demolition of farmworkers’ camp-out and more than twenty active leaders and members of Ambala and United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU were charged of different trumped up cases such as grave coercion, malicious mischief and occupation of real property. These rights abuses were all packaged in their ‘Oplan April Spring’ which main objective is to create conflict among farmworkers and disrupt their struggle for their rights to land,” Mesa said..
The groups reiterated that the terror attacks to farmworkers is not only evident in Brgy. Balete but entirely in 10 brgys. inside Hacienda Luisita. The presence of military men and CAFGUs in every barangays have sowed fear to farmworkers and their families.
“Last June 11, two military trucks and a jeepney type vehicle loaded with military men arrived at Brgy. Asturias. Until now, they’ve conducted a regular patrol and imposed a curfew to farmworkers and residents of the said brgy. Also, they were sighted at Brgy. Texas and Cutcut. Thus, we reaffirm our call that the military must leave Hacienda Luisita now ”, Mesa stated.
“The whole world knows what Aquino and his family have done in Hacienda Luisita. Only the ignorant and those interests hanging on him and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with ‘Reforms’ would disgracefully consider him as a champion,” said Joseph Canlas, Amgl chairperson.
“Aquino has wreaked hell on farmers of the region. His continued disregard of landlessness and implementation of CARPer has worsened our plight. His carrying over of anti-farmer and anti-people programs such as the Public-Private Partnership program have displaced farmers from their land. He is plague, clouding the region with poverty and misery,” Canlas said.
“Aquino is crazy to declare himself as ‘champion of land reform’ and idiotically attempt to pick up approval from Filipino farmers. The ‘Noynoy back-up’ group Akbayan should have their sanity check to plot such an agenda, otherwise they should join Aquino at a mental institution. They should not wait for each farmer to kick them out of the region at the very sight of their leaders and agents,” he added.
Ambala and Amgl called on different sectors and groups to continuously support them on their struggle for genuine land reform in Hacienda Luisita.
“We call on sectors such as the church people to resolutely support the cause of Hacienda Luisita farmworkers. CARPer is a devil’s making as it causes poverty, hunger and death among farmers. Thus, they should support the farmworkers effort of actually cultivating the land such as the ‘bungkalan,’ and not the unfitting implementation of CARPer,” Canlas said. #
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