The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) denounced the recent Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) decision regarding the Hacienda Luisita case as nothing but a divide and rule tactic of Sec. Patricia Sto. Tomas and the Cojuangco-Aquinos. 

According to Ka Willy Marbella, spokesperson of KMP, “they want to break the unity of the United Luisita Worker’s Union (ULWU) and Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU), as well as create a gap between the two unions. But this would not work, it is explicitly stipulated on the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) of CATLU as well as ULWU that the two unions would stick together no matter what, meaning no actions that is to be done on either union would it face alone, the other one is always present and will support the other,”

“The measly P15 wage hike and the P12,500 lump sum offered by the DOLE is an insult to the striking workers of CATLU for this is far below their demands. The workers would also not betray their 35 union leaders that the DOLE fired, as well as the martyrs who died for their demands. The strikers will also defy the 5 day return to work order unless, their just demands are given,” added the peasant leader.

As for her part Ka Lita Mariano, secreatray general of Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), “Sec. Sto. Tomas should not even meddle in the case anymore because the striking workers do not trust her and her actions have a definite motive and that is to justify the massacre that she licensed through the assumption of jurisdiction (AJ),”

Meanwhile Efren Reyes, spokesperson of ULWU, “we would continue with the strike and our fight for our just demands, but now due to the 5 day return to work order of the DOLE, another dispersal may ensue and if anything untoward happens to our ranks the blood on Sec. Sto. Tomas’ hands as well as the Cojuangco-Aquinos’ would get thicker,” 
“Our demands are just and we will fight for till the end!” ended Reyes. # # #

KMP - 15 January 2005