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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.
A member of the local farmers organization Aniban ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Hacienda Dolores (Aniban), which is opposing the eviction of farmers in Hacienda Dolores by LLL Holdings Inc. and F.L. Properties and Management Corporation was shot at; another member’s house was set on fire; and unidentified men threw a grenade at another member’s home.
“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
Each paper that was raffled not only contained the name of the farmworker beneficiary but also the corresponding lot allocation that has already been pre-determined. Farmworker-beneficiaries were never asked to pick random lot allocations from the tambiolo.
“We want to know the landlords who benefited from the DAP, what and where are the lands covered.” – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
“This is all part of the scheme of the Cojuangco-Aquino clan to silence us. Who else would have ordered the police to arrest us? Who else would have allowed the military to construct their outposts here?” -- Florida Sibayan, Ambala
“We were practically arrested by the Cojuangco-Aquino family to hide the anomalous and violent implementation of a flawed land distribution scheme.” – Ericsson Acosta, poet, ex-detainee, and part of the fact-finding team
Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap, Sister Pat Fox of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and former political prisoners Ericson Acosta and Kerima Tariman were among those arrested.
“Once again, the government will provide the infrastructure for the benefit of big guns in the coconut industry at the expense of small coconut farmers. It is totally revolting that P305 million of small coconut farmers money will be spent for the so-called agro-industrial estate project that will only benefit local and foreign agri-businesses.” – Willy Marbella, KMP
The Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) complained of the reduction of land being distributed, forcible signing of Application to Purchase and Farmers Undertaking, the unaffordable amortization, and the deployment of several Special Action Forces (SAF) and Special Weapons and Tactics units.
The organization of farm workers in Hacienda Luisita said the HLI management is engaged in a “grand collusion” with the DAR to derail if not sabotage the process to effectively stop the distribution of Luisita lands to farm worker beneficiaries by “orchestrating moves and actions detrimental to or grossly opposed to effective land distribution and justice driven land reform inside the Cojuangco-Aquino sugar estate.”
“Deed of title? The DAR did not even show us the land survey and now Aquino promised to give us land titles.” ¬ – Florida Sibayan, chairwoman of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala)
“I think it is horrible to see the priorities of this government, prioritizing the wealthy over the poor.”
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