The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), together with its local chapter the Alyansa ng Manggagawang-bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) lambasted Atty. Vigor Mendoza, spokesperson of Hacienda Luisita Incorporated (HLI) and the Cojuangcos for spreading lies to save the newly revoked stock distribution option (SDO) in Hacienda Luisita.

  According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of KMP, “as expected the Cojuangco family’s propaganda machinery started grinding again to steal the farm workers’ victory over them. It is not true that the farm workers should return the money spent during the implementation of the SDO, because first and foremost the owners of the hacienda are the farm workers themselves. The Manila Trial Court has ruled this on 1985.It is the Cojuangcos with the use of their power and influence, who imposed the SDO on the farm workers,”

 “The SDO is nothing but sugar-coated legalized land grabbing. It effectively deprived the farm workers the right to their own land. Now Mendoza has the gall to say that what they so-called gave the far workers should be returned. They did not give anything substantial, the home lots are owned by the farm workers in the first place. As for the wages and benefits, the farm workers worked for it through the years and the Cojuangcos were the ones who got rich. The Cojuangcos are the ones who owe the farm workers. Atty Mendoza should not obscure that fact,” stressed the peasant leader.  

Meanwhile Rene “Ka Boyet” Galang, concurrent president of United Luisita Worker’s Union (ULWU) and AMBALA said “the SDO would not have been signed by us in the past referendums if not for the deceit and harassment done by the Cojuangcos’ goons then. Now we have learned our lesson and we will stand up for our right to the land up to the last man. As for Mendoza’s overtures for dialogues, we are open to it as long as they recognize that the true and legal owners of Hacienda Luisita are the farm workers, if they do not accede with this then there is nothing to talk about,”

“We know that the struggle for our land is still far from over but we are in it for the long haul because if not then our families would starve and we will again be slaves of the Cojuangcos. We never allow this to happen again,” ended Galang. # # #
 

KMP - 22 December 2005