Cojuangcos wreak renewed land grab, terror with impunity

“Noong Oktubre, nagdeklara ang DAR na ‘tapos na ang pagdurusa’ ng mga magbubukid sa Hacienda Luisita dahil namigay na sila ng kopya ng mga CLOA. Pero ano’ng nangyayari ngayon? Pinabuldoser ng mga Cojuangco ang mga palay, kinasuhan at pinapalayas ang daan-daang magsasaka. Ito ba ang pinagmamalaki nilang reporma sa lupa?” [Back in October, the Department of Agrarian Reform declared that the sufferings of the peasants of the Hacienda Luisita are over, since they have already distributed copies of the Certificates of Land Ownership Award. But what is happening right now? The Cojuancos have ordered the bulldozing of our rice fields, hundreds of peasants are mercilessly evicted from their lands. Is this the land reform program they are so proud of?”], said Christopher Garcia, spokesperson of Hacienda Luisita farm workers alliance AMBALA.

The CLOA certificate copies only serve as amortization notices, which run counter to farmers’ demands for free land distribution in Hacienda Luisita.

Since 12 December, hirelings of the Cojuangco-owned Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) have ruthlessly cleared more than 30 hectares of ricelands and other foodcrop plantations by farmers in Barangay (village) Balete. TADECO and DAR both claim that some hundreds of hectares of agricultural lands in Tarlac City villages are not covered by the historic 2012 Supreme Court ruling to distribute Hacienda Luisita to farm worker beneficiaries (FWBs).

“This is a total lie,” said Garcia. The DAR’s own records attest that agricultural lands under TADECO’s name were already up for distribution to land reform beneficiaries through a notice of coverage (NOC) the DAR issued in 2 January 2006. This notice is based on the resolution of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) under former Pres. Arroyo to revoke the Stock Distribution Option land reform scheme and finally distribute Hacienda Luisita to farmworkers. This same PARC resolution was halted through a temporary restraining order filed by the Cojuangcos before the Supreme Court. This eventually led to the historic SC ruling in 2011 and 2012, in favor of farmworkers.

TADECO’s aggressive claims on vast agricultural lands coincided with the DAR’s land distribution activities in Hacienda Luisita starting last July. While the DAR enforced land allocation to thousands of farmworkers beneficiaries through anomalous lottery raffles in all barangays,  TADECO conspicuously set up outposts and armed security guards around choice agricultural lots in Barangays Balete and Cutcut. Hundreds of farmers were sent eviction letters by TADECO and are now facing unlawful detainer charges before local courts. Meanwhile, more than half of farmworker beneficiaries in Tarlac City are to face grave inconveniences and dislocation due to the distant location of the 0.66 hectare farmlots allocated to them by the DAR.

“During a dialogue in October, DAR officials promised us that they would release a report on TADECO by December. The DAR led by BS Aquino’s alter-ego, Sec. delos Reyes, should halt its charade of so-called research and verification of the agricultural nature of these contested lands because the naked eye can see that aside from sugarcane, these lands are obviously planted to palay, fruit trees and vegetables. The DAR’s promise to send out a new notice of coverage only aims to cover up its criminal collusion with the Cojuangco-Aquino family to subvert and sabotage the SC’s historic ruling on Hacienda Luisita,” said Ranmil Echanis, deputy secretary general of  Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA, Agricultural Workers Union).

“President Aquino is only quick to respond when it comes to interests of big business and the landlord class. He can be so hands-on and personally inspect police operations in places like Serendra or SM North Edsa for the Henry Sy and Ayala types. In Hacienda Luisita, he can only tolerate the heavy deployment of police and military personnel in full battle gear and army tanks to assist his relatives’ renewed land grabbing efforts. Hacienda Luisita farmers are now real beneficiaries, not of land reform but of state terror and ruthless impunity under this landlord president,” said Echanis.

A 40-page fact-finding report released by UMA last November further recommends a stop to all development projects in Hacienda Luisita pending the resolution of continued agrarian disputes between the Cojuangcos and farmers. “Hundreds of farmers are now being driven away from their farmlands to give way to “soon-to rise” projects, but all 10 barangays of Hacienda Luisita could be totally wiped out in favor of malls and parking lots if the Cojuangcos had their way.”

Source Verification:
Christopher Garcia
Spokesperson – AMBALA
CP # 09293200615

President BS Aquino kin continues rights violation rampage in Hacienda Luisita

“Ruthless impunity and agrarian unrest hang over Hacienda Luisita. It’s like President Aquino is setting the stage for more bloodshed,” said Florida “Pong” Sibayan, acting chairperson of the Hacienda Luisita farmworkers alliance AMBALA.

The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA, Agricultural Workers Union) said that the acquittal of Pfc. Roderick U. Dela Cruz, main suspect in the killing of Ricardo Ramos, leaves a chilling effect amid continued and grave rights violations in Hacienda Luisita.

Ricardo Ramos was the chairman of Barangay (village) Mapalacsiao and president of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU). He was killed in the night of 25 October 2005 after distributing back wages and benefits of sugar mill workers retrieved through the union’s efforts. Ramos was also a vocal critic of the unwarranted presence and operations of the military elements in the hacienda during the Luisita strike. After the strike, the Armed Forces of the Philippines established detachments in all Luisita barangays, except for Mapalacsiao and Balete where residents led by their village chairmen actively opposed the army’s proposals.

In two separate occasions, Ramos also led his constituents in barricades to stop the construction of the SCTEx (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway), a pet project of then Congressman Noynoy Aquino. Aquino’s bodyguards were involved in a shooting incident which resulted in the wounding of Ramos’ uncle. Contractors allegedly tried but failed to bribe Ramos the amount of P1.2 million (US$27.2 million) just so he would allow the project to continue.

Police investigators and eyewitnesses named two Army men as prime suspects in the killing of Ramos — Roderick “Joshua” dela Cruz and Romeo Castillo, Jr. The acquittal of Private de la Cruz comes at a time when the Cojuangco firm Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) has ordered the ruthless clearing of farmers’ crops and homes in around 400 hectares of agricultural lands in Barangays Balete and Cutcut.

Tadeco’s hirelings bulldozed about 10 hectares of farm lands in barangay Balete, cultivated by farmers since 2005, amidst heavy deployment of military forces belonging to the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (3rd Mech), the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), and provincial police personnel. These state forces virtually act as Cojuangco private armies and have set up permanent camp and detachments within the barangay and around the contested areas to support renewed land grabbing efforts by President Aquino’s family.

Furthermore, TADECO has filed charges of unlawful detainer against more than 100 farmers in barangays Balete and Cutcut to intimidate them to leave their farm lots. Since the anomalous land distribution activities of the Department of Agrarian Reform in July, the Cojuangcos have cordoned off farm lands and violently dispersed farmers who tried to repair farm huts destroyed by typhoon Santi. TADECO security guards are also suspect in the mysterious death of AMBALA member Dennis de la Cruz last 1 November.

“The acquittal of  ‘Kap’ Ric Ramos’ killer comes as no surprise, when one of the main perpetrators of the 2004 Hacienda Luisita Massacre now sits as the most powerful person in the country,” said Sibayan.

Reference:
Florida “Pong” Sibayan
Acting- Chairperson, AMBALA
Cell Phone # +639293201477

Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
(Agricultural Workers Union)
Follow UMA Pilipinas on Twitter

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal and absolutely unjustifiable use of force by state agents to quell the people’s legitimate resistance in defense of their homes on December 4, 2013 at Calangahan, Lugait town in Misamis Oriental. This use of excessive force resulted in the death of an individual, the wounding of two others and the violation of the rights of many.

Nexon Togao, the victim slain in the indiscriminate firing, was confirmed dead on arrival after two bullets shot by a plain-clothed police officer tore through his kidney and genital area.  Nexon was merely trying to rescue his son who fainted from the  the tear gas thrown by authorities.  It must be noted that Tongao was not immediately carried towards safety due to the onslaught of bullets. Some residents overheard some police officers saying “shoot them in the head.”

We abhor the absolute disrespect of the police officers of the rights of the residents especially of the women and children. The police officers even hog-tied several women protesters in the heat of the scuffle. One police officer had the gall to tell the resident he pinned down – “we just want you to be resting in the sidelines” while his knee was pinning her to the ground.

We condemn the pronouncements coming from the responding police saying that they only acted in retaliation after residents started throwing rocks at them when in fact it was the other way around. ALBIDEC’s (Alyansa sa mga Biktima sa Demolisyon sa Calangahan or Alliance of Demolition Victims in Calangahan) leaders were intending to confront the local police force and the court sheriff as to why the demolition was so sudden. Residents say that they were only informed about the demolition at 6AM that day. The residents protested, the talks failed, and that instead of answers, the demolition team and the police forces responded by throwing canisters of tear gas at the protesting residents. This blatant twisting of facts and spewing of half-truths only aims at controlling the public opinion to deflect the public’s attention from their accountability in the Hacienda Luisita-like blood bath.

This use of force to slaughter, maim and harass to subdue a civilian populace has no place in a nation that proclaims to be democratic.

We fully understand that the bureaucratic mechanisms prevalent under the current make-up of society prevents the residents from restoring their homes destroyed by individuals whose values have lead them to believe that an individual or corporation’s right to property heavily outweighs an entire community’s right to life.

We cry foul over the persistence of cruelty committed by the corporation claiming the property. As of the moment, tensions in the community are high because the fifteen meters guaranteed by the provincial government to the residents as a temporary area for their shanties is being fenced by the members of the demolition team hired by Achondoa Agro-industrial Corporation. This is deplorable and must be stopped considering that the residents have already been displaced and that no relocation area is readily available.

We recognize that the path to elevate the residents from their bitter plight requires a steadfast, sustained and willful effort. We assert that the target area for relocation must be near the residents’ source of income – the sea, since a majority of them are fisherfolk.

We appeal to the local government to continue providing for the immediate humanitarian concerns of the demolished residents – food and medicines. We challenge them to fully commit to the demands of the people for land, livelihood and decent living.

More importantly, those accountable for the blood shed must face justice. Their blatant abuse of force and severe disregard for human dignity must be halted. The residents will not be cowed.  The residents have lost their homes for a second time. Now, more than ever, they are determined to assert their rights. The victims are more than ready to face the perpetrators in the formal halls, street, parliaments and everywhere needed to put these masquerading butchers behind bars.

For reference:

Wildon C. Barros
Spokesperson
Task Force Lugait

Gary Ben Villocino
Public Information Officer
Task Force Lugait

* Task Force Lugait is an alliance formed after the violent demolition of around 250 shanties in Calangahan, Lugait, Misamis Oriental on 04 December 2013. It will work for the assertion of the right of the demolition victims to land, livelihood and decent living, and will convene an international fact finding mission to probe the violent demolition and file necessary charges against the perpetrators. Task Force Lugait is composed of ALBIDEC, the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPL), and the Northern Mindanao formations of Karapatan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), AMIHAN, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya sa Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), League of Filipino Students (LFS) and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP).

—