Luisita farmers storm DAR compound

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 10 years ago

Photos courtesy of Bulatlat Multimedia

MANILA, Philippines – Farmers stormed the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) compound on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of the Supreme Court (SC) decision ordering the distribution of Hacienda Luisita.

Radyo Inquirer 990AM said that a scuffle erupted after the group forced its way into the compound.

The report said around 50 people were able to get past the gates while another 50 picketed outside. They, however, were blocked by the Quezon City Police District and the security guards of DAR.

In a statement released Wednesday, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) claimed that despite the SC order, Hacienda Luisita has yet to be distributed to the farmers.

The Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) is 70-percent owned by the Cojuangco family’s Tarlac Development Corp. (Tadeco).

“The President (Benigno Aquino III) and his family have been bastardizing the Supreme Court decision for two years now. Control over the lands remains with the Cojuangcos despite the government’s payment of almost half a billion pesos,” KMP chairperson Rafael Mariano said.

Photo courtesy of Vencer Crisostomo

Mariano claimed that the President’s relatives were “maneuvering” to maintain control of the sugar estate through land-use conversion, among others.

Recently, Tadeco asked the Tarlac City government to reaffirm the non-agricultural classification of 358 hectares of Hacienda Luisita, allegedly to prevent the national government from acquiring it for agrarian reform.