MANILA, Philippines—Hacienda Luisita workers asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Thursday to do what her predecessor failed to accomplish, which is to re-open the investigation into the deaths of seven workers in a violent dispersal of a picket and demonstration at the plantation in 2004.
In a letter, the leaders of the farm workers’ groups lamented that their repeated pleas to former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to resolve the complaints for multiple murder, frustrated and attempted murder and physical injuries they had filed against officials of the Arroyo administration had yielded nothing.
They had filed the complaints in 2005 against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, former Northern Luzon commanding officer Major General Romeo Dominguez, former Region III police director Chief Superintendent Quirino Dela Torre, former Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Hacienda Luisita Inc. owners Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and President Aquino, who represented Tarlac in the House of Representatives at that time.
Seven farm workers, who were among those who had gone on strike, were killed during a violent confrontation with soldiers and policemen who had tried to enforce the labor secretary’s order to assume jurisdiction over the strike.
The workers had gone on strike after negotiations with Hacienda Luisita Inc. on increased wages and benefits and the distribution of lands came to an impasse.
The letter to Morales was signed by Lito Bais, acting chair of the United Luisita Workers Union; Rodel Mesa, secretary general of the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura; and Felix Nakpil, president of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita.
“We repeatedly conducted protest actions and motions for the speedy resolution of the case but [Gutierrez] ostensibly turning deaf and blind each and every time the farm workers of Hacienda Luisita and their supporters demand justice and accountability for the perpetrators of these heinous crimes,” they said.
But with Morales now at the helm of the anti-graft agency, the farm leaders see a new hope.
“The farm workers and the families of the victims for years waited for justice to come, we are optimistic that with your wise conviction and experience as former associate justice of the Supreme Court you will bring wisdom to bestow fairness and partiality to the injustice inflicted farm workers of Hacienda Luisita,” they said.
“The realization of justice would mean the persecution of those responsible to the atrocity that for years remained scot-free up to this date,” they added.
The workers said they want closure to their case and refuse to give up on their quest to find justice.
“The victims of the animosity which is the Hacienda Luisita massacre should get proper attention, this we humbly ask in behalf of all the officers and members of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyeda Luisita, the United Luisita Workers’ Union and the families of the seven martyrs of the infamous Hacienda Luisita massacre,” they said.