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TADECO petition for “progress & peace” trademark Cojuangco-Aquino style of deception

ICHRP Secretariat
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TADECO petition for “progress & peace” trademark Cojuangco-Aquino style of deception

Not content with its vicious campaign of bulldozing crops, burning of farm huts and fencing off of hundreds of hectares of agricultural lands in Hacienda Luisita, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco’s Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) is now circulating a petition peddling the lie that the continued control of the Cojuangco-Aquinos in Hacienda Luisita will bring peace and development to the Luisita farmers.

The petition, deceptively titled “Manifesto of the Residents of Hacienda Luisita,” is being distributed in all ten Luisita barangays together with a newletter published by a shady entity called LAPIS or the Luisita Advocacies, Public Information Service.

Such measures of deceit have long been the trademark style of the Cojuangco-Aquino clan in Hacienda Luisita, complementing its equally-proven propensity to employ violence in the name of its big-landlord interests. The current petition is no different from the so-called referenda pushed by the Cojuangco-Aquinos in 1989 which clinched the approval of the Stock Distribution Option (SDO) which transformed the Luisita estate into a corporation and effectively skirted land distribution. The referenda in 1989 and another in 2010 were classic hacendero exercises in bribery, deception, intense intimidation and harassment.

The Cojuangco-Aquino manifeto is also trying to vilify the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) as an isolated group that could only offer gloom and self-serving propaganda that malign the image of Hacienda Luisita. The truth however is that the AMBALA, together with its allied people’s formations like the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura and the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas, has been consistently carrying the militant struggle for genuine land reform and justice— the only real hope in fact that the people of Haciend Luisita can ever cling to.

LAPIS on the other hand, states that TADECO’s development of its 358 hectares of land would propel Tarlac’s economy.  It added that unfortunately this was scuttled by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) by issuing a Notice of Coverage on said lands. It also denied that there is no militarization on said area.

It failed to state though that the 31st Mechanized Battalion has a detachment right inside in the disputed lands, particularly in Barangay Balete and police including a fully armed SWAT team that were used in an illegal eviction action that TADECO ordered in the said village on December 21st, 2013.

Lately TADECO again with the aid of the police has been trying to bulldoze another 214 hectares of lands in barangays Mapalacsiao and Central. TADECO has still large areas of agricultural lands which DAR has purposely excluded from issuing a Notice of Coverage.

Source Verification:
Christopher Garcia
AMBALA Spokesperson
+639293200615

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Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
(Agricultural Workers Union)
Philippines
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The time is now Mr. President: Order your family to give Hacienda Luisita back to the farmers and farmworkers

ICHRP Secretariat
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The time is now Mr. President: Order your family to give Hacienda Luisita back to the farmers and farmworkers

Statement of Promotion of Church People’s Response on Hacienda Luisita

“Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.“ Proverbs 31: 9

 Two years since the Supreme Court unanimously decided the distribution of almost 5,000-hectares of land to farmers and farm workers of Hacienda Luisita, the sugar plantation owned by the Cojuangco – Aquino family of President BS Aquino – there is still no semblance that the family is giving up the land to the rightful owners and tillers. Instead they use all economic and political powers at their disposal to harass, intimidate, criminally charge and even kill farmers and beneficiaries and their leaders to avoid the land distribution.

Four days before Christmas last year, nine farmers from Balete village were illegally arrested and detained by the combined forces of PNP Tarlac and security guards of Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) when they were trying to protect their land and crops against the bulldozer of the corporation owned by Peping, the uncle of the President.

There were series of intimidation, harassments, more bulldozing of farm lots and crops and burning of farmers’ hut, and fencing of more than 500 hectares of land claimed by TADECO as not included in the more than 5,000 hectares of land of Hacienda Luisita to be distributed as ordered by Supreme Court.

Now, renewed militarization is wrecking havoc to the lives and livelihood of farmers and beneficiaries. Police and military personnel combined with private goons of TADECO suppress any attempt of the farmers and beneficiaries to protect their land and crops they won as a result of their sweat and blood.

While the Department of Agrarian Reform claimed that they distributed more than 5,000 land certificates out of the more than 6,000 famer beneficiaries, these are mere papers and do not mean land ownership and control over the disputed land. Adding insult to injury, the so-called land certificate states that the land should be paid within 30 years if not it must be returned to the Cojuangco–Aquino family.

The Cojuangco–Aquino family for over five decades have owned and controlled the more than 5,000 hectares of land of Hacienda Luisita that made them one of the richest and most powerful families in the Philippines.

It is no wonder the Cojuangco–Aquino family, TADECO and other family-owned corporations who profited from the toil of farm workers in the Hacienda Luisita will do everything and use all their economic and political powers to shun the genuine land distribution.

Up to now, justice has also not been served to farmers, farmworkers and supporters who were killed extrajudicially like the victims of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre, Fr. William Tadena, Bishop Alberto Ramento and other martyrs.

Thus, we call the BS Aquino government to heed the advice of King Lemuel’s mother “Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31: 8 – 9 NRSV).

Your families like King Ahab has taken the land of Naboth (1 Kings 21) and have already profited much and benefited most from the land that the farmers toil for over half a century.

The time is now Mr. President to order the full distribution of Hacienda Luisita to the poor and needy farm workers and farmers of Hacienda – the present Naboths. It is about time like of King Ahab your family should go back to the way of our God of justice by returning the land of Hacienda to its rightful owners.

Reference:
Fr. Dwight Q. de la Torre
Co-chairperson
Mobile number: +852 – 9180 – 5070

Small-scale miners found dead in shallow grave in Abra; farmer still missing in Isabela

ICHRP Secretariat
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Small-scale miners found dead in shallow grave in Abra; farmer still missing in Isabela

Oplan Bayanihan intensifies crimes against the people

3 small-scale miners found dead in a shallow grave in Abra; farmer still missing in Isabela http://www.karapatan.org/3+small-scale+miners+found+dead+in+a+shallow+grave+in+Abra%3B+farmer+still+missing+in+Isabela

“With the rising trend of extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations, our bases to demand for Aquino to step down is getting stronger,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan. In the first nine months of 2014, the group Karapatan already documented 10 victims of the extrajudicial killing, and a case of enforced disappearance.

The latest case was the massacre of the Ligiw family in Abra, Cordillera region; and enforced disappearance Romulo de la Cruz, a farmer in Isabela, Cagayan Valley region. De la Cruz’s disappearance is the 14th case documented under the Aquino regime.

“Kahayupan ang ginawang ito ng militar sa ilalim ng Oplan Bayanihan ni Aquino,” [These acts committed by the military under BS Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan are  barbaric and inhumane], Palabay said as the rights group strongly condemned the series of killings.

“We hold the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Aquino government accountable, they have blood on their hands and they should be punished. The AFP even had the guts to spread misinformation that the NPA, the KASTAN (Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin ti Nagtaudan) and CPA (Cordillera Peoples Alliance) were behind the abduction and brutal killing of the three,” said Palabay.

On February 19 at Lenneng, Domenglay, Baay-Licuan, Abra Province, elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion took Freddie “Fermin” Ligiw and forced him to serve as guide in the military operation against the New People’s Army who were said to be in the area.

On March 2, Fermin’s brother and father, Eddie and Licuben respectively, were last seen by their family members at their pacalso, a hut used as shelter of farmers and small-scale miners. On the same day, Fermin went home from the military operation. He ate with his family and told them he would see his father Licuben at their pacalso. Fermin, Edie and Licuben never got back home. For days, the family members assisted by the Abra Human Rights Alliance searched for the three.

On March 7, the search team, composed of 50 residents of Domenglay, Licuan-Baay, found a shallow grave near the victims’ pacalso. The team wanted to exhume the site but it had to wait for the police.  The exhumation was done the following day. The residents’ suspicion was confirmed: the remains of Eddie, Licuben and Fermin were piled up, all were in fetal position. They were bound and gagged.

The three were member of KASTAN, the provincial chapter of CPA in Abra; Fermin was a member of Anakbayan.

Enforced disappearance

On February 28 in Roxas City, Isabela, Romulo de la Cruz was abducted and remains missing as of this writing.
De la Cruz came from his son’s wedding and was on his way home when a gray van, without plate number blocked their path.

A man, whose face was covered by a handkerchief, alighted from the van and pulled the handlebar of De la Cruz’s motorcycle. Dela Cruz and his passenger fell to the ground. The man then grabbed Dela Cruz by the neck and pointed a small gun to his head. The assailant said he was a member of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).  The man pushed Dela Cruz inside the van where six other armed men were seated. The van quickly drove away with Dela Cruz.

De la Cruz was a member of Agbiag Matusalem Association-Roxas Isabela (AMA-RI), a member organization of Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon iti (Dagami).

Reference:
Cristina “Tinay” Palabay
Secretary General
+63917-3162831

Angge Santos
Media Liaison
+63918-9790580

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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
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Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Floor Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Diliman
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

HKCAHRPP seeks justice for Fermin Ligiw and family members, victims of extrajudicial killings in Abra, Philippines

ICHRP Secretariat
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HKCAHRPP seeks justice for Fermin Ligiw and family members, victims of extrajudicial killings in Abra, Philippines

The Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP) joins the international community in denouncing the rising spate of extrajudicial killings under the BS Aquino regime in the Philippines.

According to reports, members of the Phil. Army 41st Infantry Battalion doing counter insurgency operations Oplan Bayanihan committed the brutal massacre of Freddie ‘Fermin’ Ligiw, his father Licuben Ligiw and brother Edie Ligiw, members of the Binongan Tribe in Baay-Licuan, Abra on March 2, 2014. Their death brings to a total of 43 the number of extrajudicial killings of indigenous peoples under the current regime.

Members of the grassroots environmental organization KASTAN (Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin ti Nagtaudan), the local chapter of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, the Ligiws have been actively involved in anti-mining plunder and anti-militarization campaigns in the province, according to KAMP (Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas), an indigenous peoples organization.

KAMP stated that Fermin was due to file a human rights violation report to the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) on March 4, after he was used as a guide to aid the military in pursuing members of the New People’s Army.

Meanwhile, relatives of the victims who are working in Hong Kong expressed fear for their families back home. The military’s 41st Infantry Battalion had been conducting house-to-house investigation in their communities prior to the massacre, according to them. They expressed anger at the torture suffered by their relatives whose bodies bore signs of gagging and other forms of abuse, as their hands were tied-up when they were found buried in a shallow grave five days after they went missing.

While HKCAHRPP condemns the killings and demands justice for the victims, it assails the culture of impunity that was the trademark of Gloria Arroyo’s regime that persists under the administration of BS Aquino.

Once again, the HKCAHRPP stand in solidarity with the Filipino people in denouncing the spate of extrajudicial killings, abductions and the filing of trump-up charges against human rights defenders in the Philippines. These human rights abuses and violations must stop now.

Reference:
Jackie Hung
Co-convenor
Tel. (852) 92681803

Bruce Van Voorhis
Co-convenor
Tel. (852) 94923064

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Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of
Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines
c/o ASA, No. 4 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. (852) 98105070, 97585935        Fax. (852) 27354559
E-mail: hkcahrpp@gmail.com

URGENT ALERT: Peasant leader abducted, remains missing in Isabela province

ICHRP Secretariat
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URGENT ALERT: Peasant leader abducted, remains missing in Isabela province

By Karapatan (Alliance For The Advancement Of People’s Rights)

Case: Enforced disappearance
Victim: ROMULO DELA CRUZ, 42 years old

  • Farmer and resident of Barangay Matusalem, municipality of Roxas, Isabela
  • Member of Agbiag Matusalem Association-Roxas Isabela (AMA-RI), an association of residents of Matusalem village, Roxas town. AMA-RI is a member organization of Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon iti (Dagami), an alliance of peasant organizations in Cagayan Valley

Place of Incident: Nueva Era village, San Manuel municipality, Isabela province
Date of Incident: 28 February 2014

Alleged Perpetrators: Unidentified men who claimed to be agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

Account of the Incident:

On 28 February 2014, Romulo Dela Cruz attended the wedding of his son, Romy, in a mass wedding ceremony in Roxas town. At around 11:30 am, Dela Cruz boarded his motorcycle and made his way back to his village in Barangay (village) Matusalem, Roxas, together with Julie Danga, one of the wedding sponsors. The newlyweds, aboard another motorcycle, were behind them.

When they reached Barangay Nueva Era in San Manuel town, a gray van without a plate number blocked their path. A man, whose face was covered with a handkerchief, alighted from the van and pulled the handlebar of Dela Cruz’s motorcycle sideways. Dela Cruz and his passenger fell to the ground. The man grabbed Dela Cruz by the neck and pointed a small gun to his head.

Danga asked the men what they wanted. The man told her he is a member of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Dela Cruz appealed not to hurt his companions, saying he will go with them voluntarily. Danga cried and shouted for help.

The man pushed Dela Cruz inside the van. Six other men, with long firearms, were inside the van. The van quickly drove towards the national highway.

Romy and his relatives, with the assistance of AMA-RI members, immediately reported the abduction of Romulo dela Cruz to the San Manuel police station. The police inspected the site of the incident and declared that the case is outside their jurisdiction.

The police also took the statements of Danga and Romy. During Romy’s interview, the police asked about his father’s work with Dagami. A police again told Romy the case is not within their jurisdiction simply because Dagami, allegedly, has “several rival organizations.”

Romulo Dela Cruz is an active member of peasant group Agbiag-Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon iti Isabela (Agbiag-Dagami). He is known to have opposed land grabbers in Roxas town.

As of writing, Romulo Dela Cruz’s whereabouts is still unknown.

UA Date: March 4, 2014

Recommended Action:

Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:

  1. The immediate surfacing of farmer Romulo Dela Cruz and the immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into his abduction and enforced disappearance.
  2. The end to the policy of labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”
  3. The withdrawal of Oplan Bayanihan, the Philippine government’s counterinsurgency program that victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.
  4. The Philippine Government to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that it is a party and signatory to.

You may send your communications to:

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: op@president.gov.ph

Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216stqd.papp@opapp.gov.ph

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193 / 911-0488 / 982-5600
Fax:+63(2) 982-5600
Email: osnd@philonline.com, dnd.opla@gmail.com

Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-1908
Trunkline  523-84-81 loc.211/214
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email:  lmdelima@doj.gov.ph, lmdelima.doj@gmail.com, lmdelima.doj2@gmail.com

Hon.  Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email:   chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com, lorettann@gmail.com

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below:
urgentaction@karapatan.org
karapatan@karapatan.org

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