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Monique Wilson, a world class Filipino actress and global diretor for One Billion for Rising Justice campaign, takes up the cudgels for Hacienda Luisita women's struggle for genuine land reform.
Hacienda Luisita farmers share how their huts were destroyed and how they were evicted from their farm lands last month by the security guards of the Tarlac Development Corporation, a firm owned by the family of President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III.
There is a need for a network like Luisita Watch because the tyranny against farm workers in Hacienda Luisita is not being publicized.
“Compensation should have been for the actual land value of P304 million only, since DAR will not be paying them over a ten-year period as contemplated in the law. Why did DAR pay the Cojuangcos extra for the 10-year cost of money when they were paid outright and in full?” – ACT Teachers’ Rep. Antonio Tinio
“The tension in Hacienda Luisita is escalating.”
The Cojuanco clan was reportedly paid P471.5 million ($10.477 million) as compensation for turning over the land of Hacienda Luisita to the farmworker beneficiaries. But how come the Tarlac Development Corporation, owned by the clan, are now claiming choice parts of the land, and Aquino’s friends such as Virgie Torres are brandishing land lease agreements to kick out farmers from the land they have been tilling?
'It's better for DAR to stop lying and prove through actions their claims of implementing the law in Luisita. It should first stop the bulldozers of Cojuangcos in destroying our livelihood and property before they flaunt their fake accomplishments.'
"We call on the DOJ [Department of Justice] to make good their promise of creating a special panel to look into rights violations against farmers in Hacienda Luisita. With the fragile situation in Luisita, this DOJ panel must start its work now.” -- Ambala
“The Filipino peasantry has had enough of Aquino’s blatant disregard for the peoples demand for justice and genuine land reform.” – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
“The projects that the DAR entered into with the NGOs ... are not in any way related to energy-development. Worst, those projects were never implemented. Not a single centavo was spent for the said projects and not a single farmer received any benefit therefrom.”
“…Even when the Honorable Court has specifically ordered the DAR to cover all other agricultural lands in Hacienda Luisita, it did not immediately do so.”
The Cojuangco-owned Tarlac Development Corporation started bulldozing farmlands and evicting farmers in Balete village in November last year.
RELATED STORY | Luisita farmers file contempt charges vs agrarian reform department
“Ruthless impunity and agrarian unrest hang over Hacienda Luisita. It’s like President Aquino is setting the stage for more bloodshed.” – Florida “Pong” Sibayan, Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala)
Also read BACK STORY| Hacienda Luisita Workers: Bloodied but Unbowed
In its April 24, 2012 decision, the Supreme Court mandated the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to implement the land distribution of Hacienda Luisita to farmworker-beneficiaries. It was only in July this year that Ambala learned of Tadeco's claims over hundreds of hectares of land.
“It pains us that until now there is no justice for the victims. Until now too, we are still fighting for our right to the land.”
Ironically, after the Department of Agrarian Reform declared that the distribution of the land of Hacienda Luisita has been completed, the Tarlac Development Corporation has been driving out the farmworker-beneficiaries from the land they have been tilling.
"Days before his death, Dennis [Dela Cruz] told us he was afraid to stay at the hut because Tadeco security guards would come to him in the wee hours of the night. Still, he continued to stay there for the bungkalan [cultivation]."
“The existence of fake NGOs in the DA’s list, the ineptitude of the DA against rice cartels, Alcala being the lapdog of landlords and agrochemical corporations, and his continuing plunder of agricultural funds have spelled his own demise.” – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
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