The largest and most militant peasant organization in the country the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) together with its local chapter the Alyansa ng Manggagawang-bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) hit the Cojuangco family anew for muddling the issue regarding the junking of the stock distribution option (SDO) in Hacienda Luisita. 

According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of KMP, “the basic tenet of genuine land reform is the distribution of free land to farmers and to improve their livelihood. The SDO for 16 agonizing years have proven to be otherwise and should therefore be scrapped. No amount of legal maneuvers of the Cojuangcos can deny the fact that the lives of farmers, who are the rightful owners of the hacienda, became worse when the SDO was implemented in the plantation,”

“Of course the scrapping of the SDO in Hacienda Luisita will have legal as well as practical ramifications on other haciendas under the SDO and the whole Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). But the point is the SDO in essence is legalized land grabbing and it furthered mired peasants in poverty. All farm workers and farmers who are aggrieved by the SDO and the bogus CARP has the right and duty to stand up to improve his predicament, or else they will forever be at the boot heels of landlords,” added the peasant leader.

Meanwhile Rene “Ka Boyet” Galang, president of United Luisita Worker’s Union (ULWU) and AMBALA chairperson said “what Atty. Vigor Mendoza means when he said that the management plans to directly consult the farm workers regarding the junking the SDO, is basically a euphemism for further harassment and intimidation by the military and company goons of the farm workers. This is the Cojuangco family’s method of consultation as can be proven by the past referendums for the SDO,”

Up until now more than 200 military personnel under the 69th and 71st IB under the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) is in the Hacienda, launching daily harassment operations against the strikers and their leaders. Just last week they slapped may wife Rowena in the face when they could not find me. But even with this we will continue the struggle for our land, no matter what,” ended Galang. # # #
 

KMP - 5 October 2005