The largest and most militant peasant organization in the Philippines the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and its Hacienda Luisita chapter the Alyansa ng Manggagawang-Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) asked the biggest question to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regarding the Hacienda Luisita issue: Why just now?

 According to Ka Willy Marbella,internal deputy secretary general of KMP, "we have been working for the scrapping of the stock distribution option (SDO) for years,so that the land again belong to the farmers but nothing has been done. Why do it now? Is it because Gloria is fighting for her political survival and is using the issue to blackmail Cory who called for her resignation?"

 " We are challenging the Department of Land Reform (DLR) to issue a categorical order scrapping the SDO and distributing the land back to the Luisita farmworkers.Press releases would not suffice to assuage the righteous anger of the farmworkers.Even up to yesterday afternoon DLR officials refuse to meet us to discuss the issue and we were pointed to different offices,"added the peasant leader.

 Meanwhile Rene “Ka Boyet’ Galang, president of  AMBALA and United Luisita Worker’s Union (ULWU), “this may just be part of Gloria’s make-over to gain pogi points from the peasant masses. They have slept on the case and now that we are calling for her ouster, Gloria is trying to woo us with empty promises. Besides insiders say that our petition demanding the scrapping of the SDO was already junked and that what the DLR is doing now is to extract positive media mileage for the discredited fake president,”

 “We will continue with our call for the ouster of Gloria no matter what. The Hacienda Luisita issue is indeed a legitimate grievance of ours and a big step towward its resolution  lies with Gloria being ousted. We can only do justice for the martyrs of Hacienda Luisita  is Gloria is booted out from office. # # #
 

KMP - 28 July 2005