Hacienda Luisita speaks about the problem of landlordism in the Philippines. It demonstrates the unresolved contradiction between private ownership of land and agrarian reform. It is an affront to social justice in its very essence for, on the one end, one family owns a monopoly of thousands of hectares of rich agricultural and industrial land while, on the other end, thousands of families of poor farm workers who till these land unjustly suffer in unimaginable poverty.
The continuing tale about Hacienda Luisita is about how the Cojuangco clan continues to retain control over their huge real estate property out of exploiting farm workers and evading agrarian reform for decades. In the spirit of justice, it is imperative that landlord control over Hacienda Luisita be dismantled and that land be immediately distributed to farm workers.
The Supreme Court’s order for a referendum at the disputed land estate, however, allows the Cojuangcos to continue effective control over Hacienda Luisita which puts and pushes farm workers more and more on the losing end of the battle for the distribution of Hacienda Luisita. It has only given the Cojuangcos a way to more effectively evade agrarian reform and continue deprive farm workers of their rights over the land of Hacienda Luisita.
The Iglesia Filipina Independiente finds the referendum as an unacceptable solution to the problem of landlordism that Hacienda Luisita represents. It fails to address the inequity long prevailing over farm workers of Hacienda Luisita, and has compromised the primacy of social justice and human rights before landlordism.
We urge President Benigno Aquino III to make his government address the issues and interest of Hacienda Luisita farm workers. He cannot invoke neutrality before the question of poor farm workers having no land to own. We are challenging him to implement genuine agrarian reform and support the struggle of farm workers in their legitimate claim for land ownership in Hacienda Luisita.
Otherwise, for him to remain silent is to perpetuate social injustice, and if he cannot lift even one of his fingers to ensure the poor of our people a piece of land to own, he therefore does not deserve to lead our nation.
Pro Deo et Patria,
