Farmers of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac province urged the government to reopen land distribution in a motion for reconsideration filed on Aug. 8.
A farmers’ group debunked claims of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Elmer Distor that “landlords and capitalists” no longer “hold sway over vast tracts of agricultural lands.”
Joseph Canlas is a peasant leader and community organizer based in Central Luzon, where he led various campaigns and struggles against landgrabbing and land-use conversion in many farming communities in the region.
The season of advent calls us to continue to participate in the establishment of God’s kingdom in the here and now of the Philippine society, to be firm in our resolve to live in righteousness by being vigilant, ever awake and responsible of our God given duties to nurture and protect his household – the Philippine society from the evil schemes of the fake “Lords.”
Fourteen years after the Hacienda Luisita massacre, farmers still fight for their land. The Cojuangco-Aquinos have regained control of the vast sugar plantation with the aid of the Department of Agrarian Reform, military and police.
"The SC decision lacks any sense of social justice."
“Thirteen years after Hacienda Luisita massacre, no one has been arrested, put to trial and punished for the carnage that killed seven farmworkers on November 16, 2004.”
“The marching order to reject Mariano came directly from Malacañang and President Duterte.” -- KMP
“(Agrarian Reform Sec Rafael) Mariano has made impressive pronouncements and policies in favor of poor farmers struggling to own their lands legitimately.” - Most. Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona
Farmworkers in the sugar estate are fighting back for justice and genuine agrarian reform.
"The long and arduous struggle and sacrifices of Hacienda Luisita farmers for the land are slowly being repaid. The CLOA distribution to Luisita farmers is just the start.” By CERES BUSY Bulatlat HACIENDA LUISITA, Tarlac — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)...
“National minorities – 24 lumad from the Manobo tribe and some Calagan Moros were also exploited to work for a measly P9.46 a day – the same paltry sum that the Cojuangco-Aquinos gave their ‘stockholders’ 12 years ago.”
The sakadas worked from 4 a.m. until 5 p.m. for a pay way below the minimum wage of P334 per day in Tarlac. They received P9 to P128 per day due to numerous deductions.
After two years, it was only in July when Flores and other farmers were allowed to again till their farm lots, a part of the long-running struggle of farm workers in Hacienda Luisita.
Tension and terror arise anew in the Tarlac hacienda.
“The struggle in Hacienda Luisita is the struggle of the Filipino people.”
"Let us show the injustice that they did to us. And let us show that we are unbowed and still fighting."
Agrarian Reform Sec. Rafael Mariano ordered the distribution of the lands being controlled by the Cojuangco family through Tadeco.
"We are elated by Ka Paeng's words. He said no one would be harassing us anymore. We could now go back to our farms." --Florida Sibayan, chairperson of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala)
“The Cojuangco-Aquinos are far worse than drug lords, they are a feudal lord family, they victimize, not individuals, but generations of farmers, and their crime is the mother of all social cancers and injustice in the country, tyrannical monopoly control over vast tracks of land.
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