TO TERRORIZE FARMERS
[PHOTO - Farmers from
Hacienda Luisita hold a protest in front of the Supreme Court in Manila on
Wednesday to demand the immediate implementation of the highest court's ruling
to distribute the hacienda under the agrarian reform program. The Supreme Court
ruled unanimously in November 2011 in favor of the farmers.]
CLARK FREEPORT, PAMPANGA, FEBRUARY 25, 2012 (JOURNAL ONLINE) Written by : Rudy Abular -
The Alyansa ng Manggagawang Magbubukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) and Alyansang
Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) assailed anew officials of the
Cojuangco-controlled Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) for sowing continuous terror on
farmers tilling their lands at the vast sugarcane plantation in Tarlac City.
On Monday, about 300 farmers were confronted with gunfires as they tried to
dismantle the fences and barricades set up by HLI to prevent them from tilling
their lands.
The fenced portion is part of the 180-hectare plantation already turned over
by HLI to the Rizal Commercial and Banking Corp. as payment for a loan.
The said area was not included in the Supreme Court's decision on Nov. 20,
2011, ordering the distribution of lands at the sprawling sugarcane plantation.
AMBALA chair Felix Nacpil said some 100 security guards of HLI backed by some
15 soldiers and 10 policemen clashed with the farmers, preventing them from
dismantling the barricades.
"We were not cowed by gunshots as we did during the November 16, 2004
massacre," Nacpil said.
He said the recent incident was part of the HLI management's continuing acts
to terrorize the farmers who called for the immediate and free distribution of
lands at the hacienda.
Meanwhile, AMGL chair Joseph Canlas condemned the incident and described it
as another attempt of the Cojuangco-Aquinos to use government forces under the
command of President Benigno Aquino to block full land distribution the
hacienda.
Canlas said the Aquino government is using the police and military as their
private armed group to protect their Cojungco-Aquino property and repress the
farmers' struggle for their rights.
"The President keeps on lambasting Corona and at the same time neglecting the
decision of the Supreme Court for the 4,915-hectare agricultural lands to be
distributed to the farmers-beneficiaries at the hacienda," Canlas said.
AMBALA said HDI management has militarized the vast plantation by putting up
military detachments in the area since 2005.
FROM ABS-CBN
Farmers urge SC to stand firm on Luisita ruling by
Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News Posted at 02/22/2012 2:04 PM | Updated as of
02/22/2012 2:04 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Close to 200 farmers of Hacienda Luisita and their
sympathizers staged a rally at the Supreme Court (SC) today to call on the High
Court to rule with finality on the distribution of the Cojuangco-owned sugar
estate to farmer beneficiaries.
The group, led by the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Uma), Alyansa ng
mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala), and Gabriela, called on the
SC magistrates to junk a motion for reconsideration filed by Hacienda Luisita,
Inc. (HLI) and stand firm on their Nov. 22 unanimous decision ordering the
distribution of the 6,435-hectare sugar estate's agricultural lands to 6,296
beneficiaries amid Pres. Aquino's alleged maneuverings to "preserve his vested
interest in Hacienda Luisita."
"Aquino will move heaven and earth to remain steadfast on his campaign to
preserve his vested interest in Hacienda Luisita. His deep resentment not only
with the court (SC) but also to farm workers [is] written all over his putrid
yellow rhetoric of accountability, transparency and respect of the law while at
the same time hitting and neglecting the democratic rights of the people
including the Hacienda Luisita farm workers to live with dignity," Uma and
Ambala said in a joint statement.
For its part, Gabriela urged the High Court to decide the case as soon as
possible since Malacanan is allegedly taking advantage of the impeachment trial
of Chief Justice Renato Corona to get back at the Court for the landmark ruling.
"Malinaw na sinasakyan ni Aquino ang impeachment trial kay Corona sa motibong
maghiganti dahil sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema ukol sa Hacienda Luisita. Kaya't
marapat lang na mas igiit sa Korte ang pagpinal ng kanilang desisyon at biguin
ang mga banta at maniobra ng pamilya Cojuangco-Aquino at ng administrasyong
Aquino," Gabriela secretary-general Lana Libanan said.
Letter to Justices
In a 2-page letter addressed to Justices of the Supreme Court, the farmers
thanked the magistrates for deciding in their favor.
Aside from ordering the distribution of the sugar estates' agricultural
lands, the High Court also ordered HLI to pay the farmers a total of P1.33
billion for the sale and conversion of 500 hectares into commercial land.
"Ikinalulugod namin ang inyong pagpanig sa mga manggagawang bukid ng Hacienda
Luisita. Ang inyong hatol ay nagsulong sa pagkakamit ng makasaysayang hustisya
para sa daan-taong pagkaalipin at paghihirap na dinanas ng uring magbubukid at
manggagawa sa asyenda. Nararapat lang na ang lupa ay igawad sa nagpapayaman nito
at alisin ang kontrol sa lupa mula sa mga asyenderong matagal nang nakinabang sa
bunga ng kanilang pagpapagod," the letter read.
The farmers said just compensation for HLI should be junked.
"Mariin din ang aming nagkakaisang panawagan sa Korte na ipatupad ang libre
at walang kondisyong pamamahagi ng lupa sa mga benepisyaryo," the letter stated.
In their joint statement, the farmers accused Mr. Aquino of appointing
officials in key positions in order to achieve a reversal of the High Court
ruling.
"Democracy under Aquino only functions for the landed few and for his
kamag-anak, kaklase at kabarilan. Isn't it obvious the installment of [Francis]
Jardeleza as Sol-Gen (Solicitor General) and [SC Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes]
Sereno, his appointee grooming [sic] as the next CJ (Chief Justice)?
"His decadent attitude will only usher more protest for his anti-farm worker
and anti-people administration. The first step to this is [for] the Court to be
courageous enough to pen a resolution to finally resolve the distribution of
Hacienda Luisita to its farm worker beneficiaries," the statement read.
Mr. Aquino divested his shares in Hacienda Luisita upon his election as
President. Malacanan has consistently denied allegations the President is using
his power to secure a reversal of the Luisita ruling.
The farmers and militant groups sympathetic to their cause vowed to continue
holding demonstrations until the case is decided with finality.
Drama' over for feuding Ampatuans By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:23 am | Thursday, February 23rd, 2012
Together again?
[PHOTO - Former ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. AFP FILE
PHOTO]
Last year, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy
Ampatuan offered to testify against his own father and brother in the
Maguindanao massacre.
This time around, they'll be sharing the same defense lawyer.
Sigfrid Fortun, the defense counsel of Ampatuan clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan
Sr. and Andal Jr., on Wednesday said that his firm would soon also be handling
Zaldy's defense after the latter's lawyer, Redemberto Villanueva, withdrew his
firm's appearance as the former ARRM governor's lead counsel.
Fortun also confirmed in a text message Wednesday that his law firm would be
replacing Villanueva.
When asked if Zaldy was on good terms with his father and brother, Fortun
said, "Yes."
It was private prosecutor Prima Quinsayas, legal counsel of the Freedom Fund
for Filipino Journalists, who raised the matter during the hearing of the
massacre case Wednesday at the Quezon City regional trial court.
Lawyer's letter
Quinsayas said her office received the letter from Villanueva informing her
that he was withdrawing as Zaldy's lead counsel.
"But what was curious was that it was contained inside an envelope of Fortun,
Narvasa and Salazar (Fortun's law firm)," Quinsayas said.
The February 10 letter from Villanueva said he was withdrawing as lead
counsel but would remain collaborating counsel for Zaldy, she added.
Quinsayas said her office also received Zaldy's reply to the comment of
prosecutors to his motion for reconsideration at the Court of Appeals.
The ARMM governor had gone to the appellate court to challenge the Department
of Justice order charging him for the massacre. Because of this pending motion,
he has yet to be arraigned as a defendant in the massacre case.
"So we wanted to know if (Fortun's) law firm was already taking over as his
lead counsel," Quinsayas said.
No formal notice
Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes replied that the court had yet to receive a formal
notice from Fortun who was not present at Wednesday's hearing.
In a TV interview in July 2011, Zaldy offered to become a state witness in
the massacre case and even hinted that he was prepared to testify against his
father, former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., and brother, Datu Unsay
Mayor Andal Amptuan Jr.
He also alleged that former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, were involved in election
cheating during the 2007 senatorial elections.
However, prosecutors even at that time were doubtful that Zaldy would go
against his father and siblings although he was transferred from the fourth
floor to the third floor of the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa,
Bicutan, Taguig, supposedly to keep him away from the other Ampatuans.
Muddling the case
"It's a game plan to muddle the case. If these were true, the (camp of Andal
Sr. and Andal Jr.) would already be reacting. But there's no reaction. What does
this mean? It's drama," said private prosecutor Nena Santos.
"He's a desperate person testing the waters to see in what cases can he be
absolved … And in the Muslim tradition, going against your father is a big
no-no. You'd rather die. But go against the father? Never," she added.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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