The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, (KMP) together with the United Luisita Worker’s Union (ULWU) lambasted the Hacienda Luisita management for again sowing violence at the picket area of the strikers. The groups also assailed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for doing nothing to alleviate the plight of the farm workers as well as to peaceably end the strike. Both groups are part of the mounting call for Gloria’s ouster.

According to Rene “Ka Boyet” Galang, president of ULWU, “yesterday at around 12 noon residents of the hacienda saw the yellow unionists in front of city hall. Then at around 2 pm about 50 yellow unionists together with approximately 50 police arrived at the picket line and they were forcing their way into the picket area but was stopped by the strikers. 
There was a commotion and the strikers chased some of the yellow unionists. Boy Santiago, a scab, then fired two shots fortunately no one was hit. Also with the agent provocateurs was Barangay Captain Laurente of Brgy. Central, he is also identified as one who opened fire during the Hacienda Luisita massacre last November 16,” 

“It seems that the HLI management as well as Mayor Aro Mendoza, a known lackey of the Cojuangcos are getting desperate to break the will of the farm workers in the 8 month old strike. They are now again resorting to escalated double talk, harassment and violence. On one hand Aro is said to be arranging livelihood projects for the strikers and on the other hand dispersing them violently,” added Galang.

Meanwhile Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP said, “These harassments are to be expected especially now that their primary patron Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s stay in Malacanang will no longer last, so they have to close business deals while she is still in power. This is confirmed by the fact that Rep. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III himself admitted that many companies are interested on the hacienda especially his uncle Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco,”

“All their denials before are just for public consumption while all the while they are planning to sell the whole hacienda to the detriment of the 33,000 residents of the estate who are the real owners of the land. When asked is they are going to sell the hacienda Noynoy’s unflinching answer was “definitely so,” added Marbella.

“So it is imperative that all the residents of the hacienda to be more vigilant against further attacks of the Cojuangco goons, the police and the military, because sad to say there are more to come. What must be done is to strengthen our resolve and oust their No.1 patron from power, so that the Cojuangcos will also be weakened,” ended the peasant leader. # # #
 

KMP - 5 July 2005