CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – For the first time since the Supreme Court awarded to them the lands they till at the vast estate owned by Pres. Aquino’s family, farmworkers and their sympathizers are set to commemorate the infamous Hacienda Luisita Massacre that happened on Nov. 16 eight years ago.
The Alyansa ng Mangagawang Bukid ng Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) said yesterday the activities will start as early as Nov. 6 with a press conference, a forum, and a picket in Tarlac City and then a “benefit gig” in Angeles City.
Another press conference would be held in Quezon City on Nov. 12, while a “misang bayan” for the seven farmworkers killed during the massacre would be held at the Baclaran church on Nov. 14.
Ambala said the farmworkers would hold a protest rally at Mendiola near Malacanang on Nov. 15 and on Nov. 16, the anniversary date of the massacre, they would hold a protest action in the same area where the massacre occurred on Nov. 16, 2004.
“Eight years after the Hacienda Luisita Massacre, no one has been made accountable for the killing of seven protesters at a rally on the vast tract of land owned by the Cojuangco side of the family of Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino III,” Ambala said.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) noted that “not one police, military or civilian official has been made accountable or has been convicted.”
Bayan claimed that “the Office of the Ombudsman has sat on the case and no significant results have been made in achieving justice for the seven who died at the picket lines.”
Relatives of the victims had filed multiple murder charges with the Office of the Ombudsman against more than 50 soldiers and civilians allegedly involved in the massacre, among them was the President, who was a Tarlac congressman at the time.
Also charged were Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) incorporator Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and former Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.
In 2008, the Ombudsman decided to drop the charges against all civilians charged in the case and prosecute only the military men who allegedly dispersed the picket line, but the case has remained against the soldiers has remained pending.
Hacienda farmworkers Jesus Laza, Jhaivie Basilio, Juancho Sanchez, Jessie Valdez, Jun David, Jaime Pastidio, and Adriano Caballero were killed when police and military personnel opened-fire at the striking farm workers in front of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac’s Gate 1 at the hacienda on Nov. 16 eight years ago.
Before the Supreme Court, in a decision rendered on Nov. 22 last year, decided to finally award the hacienda lands to the farmworkers, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos was quoted to have said that “the only acceptable justice measure for the victims of the Hacienda Luisita massacre is the break-up of the Cojuangco-Aquino’s monopoly over the lands.”
While the lands have already been awarded to the farmworkers by the High Court, the verdict has yet to be implemented amid appeals issued by the hacienda management on various issues, including the payment of P1.3 billion to them from the proceeds of sales of hacienda lands to other parties.
Ambala insisted, however, that those accused as being directly involved in the massacre should be convicted and jailed.
