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NEWS RELEASE
July 11, 2011

The peasant groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) today trooped to the Department of Agrarian Reform and accused President Aquino’s relatives, the Cojuangco-Aquinos of Tarlac, for employing “bribery and coercion” in Hacienda Luisita saying the Supreme Court-ordered referendum is now being exploited by the President’s relatives.

“The Cojuangco-Aquinos are now employing brazen bribery and coercion to preserve its stranglehold over Hacienda Luisita,” says KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos.

Quoting reports coming from Hacienda Luisita farmers and farm workers, UMA chair Lito Bais, said that a certain Juanito Luna, a supervisor of HLI, is paying P5,000 each farmer. At the same time, Buena Timbol, secretary of HLI vice-President for administration Ernesto Teopaco, President Aquino’s uncle, has summoned Barangay Captains in the 10 barangays (villages) of Hacienda Luisita.

“This is blatant corruption by the President’s relatives,” KMP’s Ramos said.

Bais, who is also acting President of the United Luisita Workers’ Union (ULWU), said the Cojuangco-Aquino’s are now using the Supreme Court decision to sow disunity in Hacienda Luisita.

“The SC decision only bolstered the Cojuangco-Aquinos’ divide and rule strategy. This is a preview of things to come once the SC-ordered referendum pushes through,” says Bais adding, “we expect intense political maneuvers from the President’s family characterized by harassment, deception, and bribery.”

The peasant groups also assailed HLI co-owner Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., the President’s uncle, who accused “outsiders and leftists” of stirring up the controversy on the Supreme Court decision.

Cojuangco said he was dismayed by the statement of some groups insisting that the sprawling sugar plantation in Tarlac be distributed to farmers despite the high court’s ruling. “Saan nanggagaling lamang iyon? Sa mga tagalabas na naman. Sa mga taga-kaliwa. ‘Yung mga gustong ibagsak si Noynoy at ‘yung mga gustong guluhin itong bayan natin,” he said in an exclusive interview with GMA News.

“Let me remind Cojuangco that his family acquired Hacienda Luisita using public funds,” says KMP’s Ramos referring to the acquisition of the Cojuangcos of Hacienda Luisita in 1957 through a loan from the Government Service Insurance System and the Central Bank of the Philippines.

“Cojuangco should stop bragging and acting like Hacienda Luisita is a separate kingdom from the Philippines,” Ramos said.

“As long as the Cojuangco-Aquino’s feudal exploitation and oppression exists in Hacienda Luisita, the farm workers will continue to have support from the Filipino people,” says Ramos. #