[29], In the aftermath of the November 2004 massacre, the DAR established Task Force Luisita to conduct further investigations and conduct focus group discussions among the farmers. [17], The signing into law of Republic Act No. The same reports pointed to the fact that military and police forces, acting on orders of the labor department, appeared intent on breaking up the picket of the striking workers days before the Nov. 16 dispersal that claimed the lives of seven strikers and the wounding of at least 200 others. MANILA, Philippines The decadelong saga over the distribution of Hacienda Luisita, the vast sugar plantation in Tarlac province owned by the family of former President Benigno Aquino III, must come to an end, the Supreme Court has ruled. In accordance with the SDO agreement, there would be a 30-year schedule for distributing and transferring the stocks to the farmers. The hacienda an inheritance from the sugar plantation system practiced during Spanish colonial times is a massive area of land, at 6,000 hectares. 13Mendiola massacre / Number of deaths [10], Aquino was assassinated on 21 August 1983. [21] The incorporators of HLI, which control 70% of the stock shares of the Hacienda, are Pedro Cojuangco, Josephine C. Reyes, Teresita C. Lopa, Jos Cojuangco Jr., and Mara Paz C. Teopaco all siblings of the late former President Corazn C. Aquino who, on the day she became President of the Philippines, bequeathed her shares to her children and non-profit organizations such as the Daughters of Charity for fear that it would be used as political propaganda. Why did the Hacienda Luisita massacre happen? 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) on 10 June 1988 signaled the beginning of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) under former President Corazon Aquino. By RONALYN V. OLEA AND DABET CASTAEDA Both carnages took place during the time of Pres. Farm workers interviewed by Bulatlat said tension rose on Nov. 15 as the 6,000 strikers were reinforced by 9,000 residents from the haciendas 10 barangays (villages) at Gate 1. This appears to be the finding based on accounts, testimonies and results of fact-finding missions gathered by Bulatlat. [2], Hacienda Luisita was once part of the holdings of Compaa General de Tabacos de Filipinas S.A., better known as Tabacalera. This portion was to be distributed to original farmers under the agrarian land reform program. The workers, Paragas said, were determined to maintain the picket line. Originally owned by the Compaa General de Tabacos de Filipinas, it is now owned by the Cojuangco family who acquired the hacienda in the late 1950s. Another major dispersal was at work, Paragas recalled, this time with the police reinforced by soldiers from the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) based at Camp Aquino which is just across the highway overlooking the hacienda. machine gun. At around 6 p.m. on Nov. 6, policemen used tear gas and water cannons to drive the strikers out of the CAT gate. The original Hacienda Luisita was a tobacco plantation, awarded in 1882 by the Spanish colonial government to the firm Tabacalera, founded by Antonio Lopez, who named it after his wife. In the afternoon of November 16, Filipino police and army units carried out a brutal massacre of striking sugar plantation workers at Hacienda Luisita, located in Tarlac province in central Luzon, north of Manila. There is a high probability, he said, that other soldiers positioned at the left side of the sugar mill used silencers. The recent developments in Hacienda Luisita are positive. The Massacre On the 6 th of November 2004, thousands of farm workers and sympathetic activists barricaded the gates of Hacienda Luisita - one of the major sugar plantations in the Philippines. Soldiers gave chase as striking workers ran for safety toward the nearest barangay. The influential Cojuangco family have stakes in farming, banking and their control of Hacienda Luisita was financed by a government loan in 1957. What happened Mendiola massacre? On 18 May 1988, the case the Marcos administration filed against TADECO was dismissed by the Court of Appeals, and the Philippine government, under the Aquino administration, moved to dismiss its own case. [citation needed], In 1947, a farmer's wife was reported to be raped by one of the remaining Spanish directors of the hacienda. Paragas said there were more than 200 canisters of tear gas thrown at the workers. That same year, they had petitioned the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to revoke the stock distribution option and to set the tone for land redistribution instead. The perpetrators were members of the armed forces, the military and police forces sent hundreds of armed enforcers to the site of the rally upon the request of the landowners who are members of the influential Cojuangco family. [6], The year 1967 marked the end of the ten-year window given to the Cojuangcos in order to distribute the land. ULWU strikers manned Gate 1 the entrance leading to the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) located south of the hacienda, which is a one-hour walk from the MacArthur national highway while those from Catlu took their position outside Gate 2 north of the 6,000-ha plantation. The violence that marred the strike of plantation and milling workers of the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita on Nov. 16 was bound to happen and government authorities may have to account for it. [34] But from the 4,916 hectares to be redistributed, 500 hectares were converted into non-agricultural use on 18 August 1996 by the Department of Agrarian Reform, while 80.5 hectares was also subtracted for the development of the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). Tomas did just that on tuesday, 16 November 2004 when she sent in the police and the military to enforce a return-to-work order upon the workers of the Cojuangco familys most prized possession Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac Province. A decade after the event, the aggrieved families filed a petition to reopen the case. Three fire trucks and an armored personnel carrier (APC) were positioned inside Gate 1. President Duterte caught everyones attentions when he declared himself the first left-wing Filipino president, alluding to his links with labour unions all over the country and his ties with the rural, farmer class. Catalina), Lourdes (formerly Texas), Mapalacsiao (formerly Luisita), Asturias, and Bantog in Tarlac City; Barangay Motrico in La Paz town; and Barangays Parang (formerly San Sebastian), Mabilog (formerly Pasajes) and Pando in Concepcion town. In the process, many families have lost their sources of income. They were David, Jhaivie Basilio, Jesus Laza, Jessie Valdez, Juancho Sanchez, Adriano Caballero Jr. and Jaime Pastidio. [33] This is based on the 1989 valuation of the Hacienda Luisita that the Supreme Court had voted upon. Tomas did just that on tuesday, 16 November 2004 when she sent in the police and the military to enforce a return-to-work order upon the workers of the Cojuangco family's most prized possession - Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac Province. [25][26] Over a thousand farmers, and another several thousand union members attended the demonstration. The entry of judgment of said decision shall be made upon the time of the promulgation of this Resolution. During the Marcos regime, there were attempts to have the Cojuangcos cede control of Hacienda Luisita to be placed back under the Ministry of Agrarian Reform to be redistributed to the farmers at a compensation to the family. [5], During the American period, the hacienda supplied almost 20% of America's sugar from 1898 to the 1940s (from the SpanishAmerican War until World War II) back when the Tabacalera still owned it. With a new production line, the refinery required a new system for more efficiency. Photo by EFREN, The Hacienda Luisita Massacre: How It Happened, Get Bulatlats latest news and updates via email, Philippines news: 8 years after Luisita massacre, not one hectare distributed | Pinas news library, 8 years after Luisita massacre, not one hectare distributed - Bulatlat, Philsteel workers terminated for refusing CBA moratorium - Bulatlat. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. To this day, many farmers are still living in dire conditions subservient to a powerful family holding a monopoly on the yields of the plantation. In a violent strike dispersal in Hacienda Luisita last November 16, 2004, 14 people were killed, including two children aged 2 and 5 years old who died from suffocation from teargas lobbed by the police and army dispersal teams. They were protesting against the mass retrenchment of farmworkers. The police were armed with truncheons and shields while the hacienda workers had their own truncheons made of pieces of wood, said Rene Tua, a sugar mill worker and adviser of the CAT labor union (or Catlu). Lumabas na kami. (They did not want to talk to us. Kanya itong ipinangalan sa kanyang asawang si Luisa Bru y Lasss. The promise was made even though she was part of the Cojuangco clan that had ownership over the plantation. Hacienda Luisita is a 6,453-hectare sugar plantation located in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. In 2004, the workers' union tried to negotiate with the management to increase daily wages to P225 and increase work days to 23 days weekly. No further pleadings shall be entertained in this case. Tulakan lang (just pushing and shoving). The November 2004 massacre or more popularly known as the Hacienda Luisita massacre is one of the most prominent instances of protest related deaths of Filipinos in recent years. Puerto Madero N9710, Oficina 22, Pudahuel - Santiago | packers athletic training staff The hacienda spans 11 barangays in three towns of Tarlac province. This massacre is one of the dark days in the history of the place. Since its acquisition in 1882, different people occupied the estate. At the count of three, Tua said, the combined forces of the plantation and sugar mill workers pushed the entire police contingent. Tomas ordered the striking workers to return to work so the company could resume its operations in 24 hours. The Cojuangcos got ownership of the property, on condition that they would subdivide it among the tenants. It features Luisita Golf and Country Club, a golf course and Las Haciendas de Luisita Subdivision, a 5-interconnected luxury subdivision. Probably still one of the most stupid decisions of the What is your unpopular opinion? Para lang kaming nanghuhuli ng daga (It was like we were catching mice), is how Sibayan described the incident. A Japanese policy was put in place to ensure that supplies in commodities such as rice and sugar were not interrupted and were made available to Filipinos in order to avoid insurgencies or rebellions. (Other reports said 14 were killed.). About 5,000 sugar farm workers and 500 sugar mill workers went on strike on Nov. 6 (Saturday) to demand, among others, the reinstatement of 327 workers led by union leaders earlier laid off by the Hacienda Luisita, Inc. (HLI) management. This prompted about 50 women strikers to also take the frontline to face the policewomen. They brought pails of water from nearby Balite village and used these to catch the tear gas canisters. It started with a protest by farmers and union members on November 16, 2004. No coming into blows, tear gas or water cannon. This agreement was implemented on 11 May 1989. Katabi ko siya nang tamaan siya ng bala. machine gun. Human barricades had formed outside Gate 1 to block trucks loaded with sugarcane from entering the sugar mill inside the hacienda. . The Hacienda Luisita vs PARC document outlined the facts and timeline. Aquino was Magsaysay's political prodigy and personal assistant at that time, which helped the Cojuangcos in purchasing CAT. In response, farmers began to organize themselves in order to push for the distribution. Gusto si Ka Satur lang. 131654, Manila Regional Trial Court, Branch XLIII) sought the surrender of the hacienda to the Ministry of Agrarian Reform in order to properly distribute the land to the qualified farm workers. Since that time, there were several court battles until 1988. In November 16, 2004, the Hacienda Luisita Massacre happened right in front of the sugar mill. But the strikers were ready, Flor Sibayan, who was among them, recalled. The violence that marred the strike of plantation and milling workers of the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita on Nov. 16 was bound to happen and government authorities may have to account for it. Will government be held accountable for Hacienda Luisita violence? endorsed by the Central Bank of the Philippines, as well as the Government System Insurance Service (GSIS). [11] During this time, the Marcos administration took an interest in enforcing land reform. 1988 President Aquino signs into law the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law with the SDO clause. Wala siyang armas. (He was beside me when he was hit. Hacienda Luisita main road, from Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac to Balite, Lourdes, Central and Mapalacsiao, Tarlac City, Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos (1965-1986), Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), Revocation of the Stock Distribution Option Agreement, "For Land and Justice: The Continuing Agrarian Struggle in Hacienda Luisita. In a 2008 speech to the Food and Agriculture Organization, then-CHR commissioner Leila de Lima said the rights agency investigated . Bumabalik ang mga manggagawa kapag humuhupa na ang epekto ng tear gas (Workers would return to the picket line every time the effect of the tear gas weakens). A few minutes later, tear gas filled the air. Paragas said he saw soldiers armed with long rifles position themselves on the open field at the right side of the sugar mill and at the left side of the gate. What you saw is just the first of four parts, you may see the remaining parts on YouTube by searching 'Sa Ngalan ng Tubo' to know how the strike by the workers of Hacienda Luisita ended. [39] The protest led to property damage, where protesters had destroyed over 100 meters of a wall surrounding the contested lot. Gusto si Ka Satur lang. Those that hit the ground were immediately covered with wet cloths and were spilled with water. The farmers have also condemned the coercive use of armed forces to facilitate the land distribution, with many citing cases of harassment during the course of the proceedings. It underlines the fraud of bourgeois "democracy," which rains death on the exploited and oppressed fighting for their rights. To ease the tension, about 10 policewomen deployed themselves at the police front line. The result was a bloody massacre in which seven died including two children. SC calls for new Luisita referendum", "SC releases final ruling on Hacienda Luisita", "SC votes for 1989 rates valuation of Luisita land", "Two years on, Luisita land distribution a failure farmers", "Hacienda Luisita land distribution begins", "28 years of agrarian reform in Hacienda Luisita", "Luisita firm sues farmers for breaking into bank lot", "Hacienda Luisita done distributing sale shares to farmers SC", "SC orders distribution of Hacienda Luisita", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hacienda_Luisita&oldid=1105948787, This page was last edited on 22 August 2022, at 14:16. province of Tarlac, Philippines ULWU strikers manned Gate 1 the entrance leading to the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) located south of the hacienda, which is a one-hour walk from the MacArthur national highway while those from Catlu took their position outside Gate 2 north of the 6,000-ha plantation. Human barricades had formed outside Gate 1 to block trucks loaded with sugarcane from entering the sugar mill inside the hacienda. However, in 2012, the Supreme Court ordered that the original farmer-beneficiaries should become landowners. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Pingback: Philippines news: 8 years after Luisita massacre, not one hectare distributed | Pinas news library, Pingback: 8 years after Luisita massacre, not one hectare distributed - Bulatlat, Pingback: Philsteel workers terminated for refusing CBA moratorium - Bulatlat, A biker takes a quick spin around Academic Oval in UP Diliman. This appears to be the finding based on accounts, testimonies and results of fact-finding missions gathered by Bulatlat. Who is the real owner of Hacienda Luisita? It is a large piece of prime agricultural land that the Cojuangco family has used as a sugar cane field for many years for sugar production. Despite being an agricultural nation, so much of those employed in this sector are in dire poverty. Those that hit the ground were immediately covered with wet cloths and were spilled with water. When did Escobar buy Hacienda Npoles? The workers then found out that the hacienda was receiving multiple fines that were deducted from the workers wages, which sparked outrage. The shooting killed seven union members and residents of Hacienda Luisita. Two unions led the strike: the United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU, union of the plantation workers) and the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (Catlu) of the milling workers. Behind them were agents of Nolcom. Bulatlat.com. On 10 June 1988, the Republic Act No. Tomorrow, Nov. 16, marks 10 years since the Hacienda Luisita Massacre happened at the controversial landed estate in Tarlac "owned" by the family of President Aquino. Their guards demolished their houses and barred them from accessing their pieces of land. 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