PRESS RELEASE
November 24, 2011

SC ruling on HLI proves CARPER no-good; fight not over—LFS

“The fact that it would take an SC ruling for farmworkers and farmers to have what’s rightfully theirs is a testament on how worthless and inutile CARPER is.”

This was the statement of the League of Filipino Students as the Supreme Court ruled 14-0 in favor of land distribution of the ‘Aquino-owned’ Hacienda Luisita.

“Land distribution is way overdue, but still the Supreme Court ruling is commendable. The sad picture in this situation is that farmers would need the Supreme Court to rule in favor of them just to get what’s rightfully theirs, proving that the land reform program CARPER is nothing but a piece of garbage aimed at maintaining the monopolized ownership of land in the Philippines and not at all at distributing the land to the tillers as it so untruthfully promises.”, said Aki Merced, LFS Spokesperson.

“It has come to this moment where many have been killed and a lot have suffered from hunger and poverty from the hacienda system that is well and alive throughout the country. It is high time to rethink and expose the CARPER that has allowed the bogus Stock Distribution Option to be an instrument of the landed elite in depriving the farmers of what is rightfully theirs.”, said Merced.

Merced said that now more than ever, junking CARPER is significant in the struggle for genuine land reform.

Fight not over

“On the other hand, we cannot be so sure that this SC ruling would be swiftly implemented given that the landlord clan that it dodges is the President’s family. The Aquino camp has proved itself a staunch defender of the Hacienda Luisita Incorporated. It has 2 massacres, the Mendiola and Hacienda Luisita massacres, in its track record to prove it.”, Merced said.

Merced recounts both massacres, first of which happened in the Cory Cojuangco-Aquino’s time. “Every supporter of the farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita and the campaign for genuine land reform should be on the guard should the Aquino camp make moves in overturning the clear decision.”, Merced said.

“Definitely, the fight is not over. The hacienda system is alive and well, thanks to CARPER and our Haciendero President. It would take more than an SC ruling to free the monopolized lands, and we can only count on the mass movement of the Filipino people to ensure that our tillers get what’s rightfully theirs.”, Merced said. #