The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and its chapter the Alyansa ng Manggagawang-bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) lambasted the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) and the troops un Gen. Jovito Palparan, for abducting 10 Luisita farm workers around 3am this morning at Brgy. Balete. The abductors are fromthe 48th IB led by a certain Sgt. Dennis Mendoza. The strikers were hurt by the soldiers and they sustained bodyand head contusions and wounds. 

According to Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP “we now just receive word that the military are filing trumped up charges of illegal possession of deadly weapons upon the strikers to justify their abduction. Arnold Cunan and Marilou Ricardo and Eduardo Martinez,3 of those abducted are in the NOLCOM’s order of battle, as well as in the “Knowing the Enemy” and the Trinity of War book. The NOLCOM is trying to criminalize the agrarian and labor dispute in the hacienda so that they can haul the leaders to jail. This maneuver has also been used in other cases like that of the Mamburao 7,”

“The motive for the abduction and consequent filing of charges is to further harass the strikers in Luisita, particularly the residents of Brgy. Balete. The military just wants to divert public attention that up until now after almost a year of the Luisita massacre, justice has not been served. The NOLCOM and Palparan is trying to preempt the big protest action scheduled for the Luisita massacre anniversary on the 16th,” added the peasant leader.

Meanwhile Rene “Ka Boyet” Galang, president of United Luisita Worker’s Union (ULWU) and AMBALA said, “Those who were abducted are legitimate residents of Hacienda Luisita and not New People’s Army (NPA) members as the military would like the public to believe. Arnold Cunan, Malou Ricardo, Renato Mendoza, Eddie Capulong, a 10 year old boy named Chador Cunan, Lito dela Cruz, Eduardo Martinez, Rochelle Bayudan, Arnel Badel, Rico Oles,Nino Oles, Resty Puzon are members of ULWU and CATLU and their family, they are not in anyway connected with the NPA,”

“Just last week we found out that the NOLCOM issued an Order of Battle containing 25 names from Brgy. Balete and 12 from Brgy. Mapalacsiao. Initially those we saw on the list are 1.Romeo Zarate 2.Andres Dacanay Jr. 3.Arnold Cunan 4. Marcelino Cunan 5.Marlon Cunan 6.Rolly Galang 7.Rene Galang 8.Conrado Dacanay 9.Celia Galang 10.Rodel Galang 11.Malou Ricardo 12.Retching Bautista 13.Boking Gonzales 14.Pogi Bautista 15. Bunny Bautista. What is their basis for putting us on this list,, evidently to try to silence us,” ended Galang. # # #
 
Note: As 7 of those abducted were released while 3 remains in the police station, namely Arnold Cunan, Marilou Ricardo and Eduardo Martinez.  
 

KMP - 14 November 2005