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President Benigno S. Aquino III can be held equally liable for what progressive groups have described as a “sham” deal involving his family’s Hacienda Luisita.
Jobert Ilarde Pahilga, the lawyer for the farm workers in Hacienda Luisita, said HLI’s compromise agreement is “the third time that the Cojuangcos-Aquinos betrayed agrarian reform and the HLI farm workers.”
his is a copy, which Sentra emailed to Bulatlat, of the compromise agreement between Hacienda Luisita Inc. and the farm workers.
By DABET CASTAÑEDA
In 2004, Bulatlat.com published a two-part investigative report on Hacienda Luisita, its troubled history, and the struggle of the farmers and workers for land and justice. The first part, For Land and Wages: Half a Century of Peasant Struggle in Hacienda Luisita, talks about the lives of the farmers and the events that led to the strike and massacre. The second part, Poorly Paid Workers Lose Jobs — and Homes, Too, exposes the toll the conflict had on the peasants.
Click here for more Bulatlat stories and multimedia content on Hacienda Luisita.
The Versolas continue to support the strike, visiting the picket line to watch documentaries on the massacre, help in the kitchen chores or just exchange views with anyone.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“We never had any dialogue [with HLI management],” said Lito Bais, a leader of the Luisita union, noting that the Inquirer report on the deal came two weeks before the scheduled oral arguments before the Supreme Court on Aug. 18. Bais said the supposed agreement is meant to send a message to the members of the high court. “They want to influence the outcome of the SC decision.”
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
The KMP promises to continue the struggle for the rights and welfare of Filipino peasants. "We would continue fighting for a genuine agrarian reform program with the main goal of free land distribution," said Rep. Rafael Mariano.
Francisco Dizon of Ambala, a union in Hacienda Luisita, talks about the plight of the farmers and workers in the sugar plantation owned by the family of President Aquino. This discussion is part of the coverage of Bulatlat.com and Kodao Productions of Aquino's first State of the Nation Address.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Because the Arroyo administration left the country in a crisis of unparalleled proportions, progressive groups presented an agenda, which they deem as necessary for the nation's survival.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Pascual Guevarra’s colleagues and relatives reacted strongly when President Benigno Aquino III said the recent cases of extrajudicial killings were due to personal grudges.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
A 78-year-old peasant leader was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men inside his house in San Isidro, Laur town, Nueva Ecija, at around 4:45 p.m. Friday, July 9. He was the second victim of extrajudicial killing under the new administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Even as the 1,644-hectare land was already awarded to the farmers in 1972 through Presidential Decree 27 or the Marcos Land Reform Law, the Araneta family was able to get the Court of Appeals to rule in its favor in 2003. Now the case is before the Supreme Court.
By LYN V. RAMO
With their small parcels of land no longer producing enough for their families, peasant women and men try to make do with odd jobs.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Seven in every 10 Filipinos are farmers, the KMP (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) emphasized, which was why they had been trying to bring their demands right to the president himself. If there is to be change, a lot of it must happen on farmers’ lives, they said.
Update: Peasants in Mendiola Camp-out, First Victims of Violent Dispersal Under the New Government
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