Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that a peasant leader was hurt after protecting his land from perpetrators that set up markers on disputed land. The disputed land is covered by a notice of land reform coverage dated December 17, 2013 issued by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
UPDATED INFORMATION: (Based on the documentation by the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights -KARAPATAN-)
In our appeal in March 20, 2014 (UAC-036-2014) we reported the violent confrontation on a piece of disputed land in Central Luzon that led to the death of Arman Padino. He and his colleagues were on their way to harvest their fruit and vegetables but were prohibited by the security guards of LLL Holdings.
Hacienda Luisita/ Photo: AHRC
On 24 March 2014, Rudy Corpuz (59), a leader of the Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) from Barangay Cutcut, Hacienda Luisita, suffered head injuries after an attack by a certain Faustino Corpuz (no relation to Rudy), a worker contracted by Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) to set up markers on disputed property. Local AMBALA members in Cutcut have been standing vigil over a hundred hectares of agricultural land planted with rice grain and vegetables due to threats of bulldozing and fencing by TADECO.
TADECO filed ejectment charges against 81 farmers from Barangay Cutcut who have been planting foodcrops in the said area since 2005. The charges were recently dismissed by local courts. The said property is also covered by a notice of land reform coverage (NOC) dated December 17, 2013 issued by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
On the same day, farmers led by AMBALA Chairperson Florida “Pong” Sibayan confronted local DAR officials headed by the Provincial Agrarian Reform Office (PARO) Chief, Ileona Pangilinan, for failing to act on AMBALA’s urgent cease and desist petition against TADECO filed since December.
Pangilinan reportedly told the farmers that “the DAR is on their side,” but Sibayan dared the officials to put their words into action. The NOC that the DAR issued for TADECO property is useless if they cannot even issue a cease and desist order to stop the Cojuangco-Aquino family from fencing off these lands from the farmers.
Sibayan’s hut and crops were among those destroyed by thugs, allegedly hired by the Cojuangcos in another village, Barangay Balete last February 8. Twelve farmers including Sibayan’s husband Willy, filed new complaints of malicious mischief, grave coercion, illegal detention before the Department of Justice (DOJ), March 20. Barangay Balete is now literally surrounded by concrete fences on all sides except that which faces the Luisita Access Road.
Sibayan was recently released from police custody after posting bail for a fabricated criminal charge filed by a TADECO security guard. Dozens of farmers and their supporters have also been laid with fabricated criminal charges by filed by local police and TADECO with intention to harass and to suppress the dissenting farmers.
The company headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Mechanized Battalion is located inside the fenced TADECO area in Barangay Balete, where bulldozers owned by the Cojuanco’s are parked. Preceding TADECO’s move to set up markers on disputed land, soldiers conducted a medical mission in Barangay Cutcut.
Another detachment of the paramilitary CAFGU was transferred from Barangay Lourdes to an area nearer Barangay Central and Mapalacsiao, where the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) and TADECO have been bulldozing and fencing off some 214 hectares of agricultural land. Kris Aquino, sister of the President, is now a board member of CAT.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case.
The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights defenders.
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PHILIPPINES: A peasant leader who was defending his land was hurt in a confrontation with thugs
Name of the victims:
1. Rudy Corpuz, 59 years old, resident of Barangay Cutcut, Hacienda Luisita. He is a leader of Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA).
2. Florida “Pong” Sibayan, She is a resident of Barangay Balete, Hacienda Luisita.
She is the chairperson of Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA).
Alleged Perpetrators:
1. Faustino Corpuz, a worker contracted by Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) and other individuals who are alleged to be hired thugs
Dates of incident:
1. March 24, 2014
2. February 8, 2014
Place of incident:
1. Barangay Cutcut, Hacienda Luisita
2. Barangay Balete, Hacienda Luisita
I am writing to raise my grave concern regarding the case of Rudy Corpuz. On 24 March 2014, Rudy Corpuz, (59), a leader of Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) from Barangay Cutcut, Hacienda Luisita suffered head injuries after an attack by a certain Faustino Corpuz (no relation to Rudy), a worker contracted by Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) to set up markers on disputed property. Local AMBALA members in Cutcut have been standing vigil over a hundred hectares of agricultural land planted with rice grain and vegetables due to threats of bulldozing and fencing by TADECO.
TADECO filed ejectment charges against 81 farmers from Barangay Cutcut who have been planting foodcrops in the said area since 2005. The charges were recently dismissed by local courts. The said property is also covered by a notice of land reform coverage (NOC) dated December 17, 2013 issued by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
On the same day, farmers led by AMBALA Chairperson Florida “Pong” Sibayan confronted local DAR officials headed by Provincial Agrarian Reform Office (PARO) Chief Ileona Pangilinan, for failing to act on AMBALA’s urgent cease and desist petition against TADECO filed since December.
Pangilinan reportedly told the farmers that “the DAR is on their side,” but Sibayan dared officials to put their words into action. The NOC that the DAR issued for TADECO property is useless if they cannot even issue a cease and desist order to stop the Cojuangco-Aquino family from fencing off these lands from farmers.
Sibayan’s hut and crops were among those destroyed by thugs allegedly hired by the Cojuangcos in another village, Barangay Balete last February 8. Twelve farmers including Sibayan’s husband Willy, filed new complaints of malicious mischief, grave coercion, illegal detention before the Department of Justice (DOJ), March 20. Barangay Balete is now literally surrounded by concrete fences on all sides except that which faces the Luisita Access Road.
I learned that Sibayan was recently released from police custody after posting bail for a fabricated criminal charge filed by a TADECO security guard. Dozens of farmers and their supporters have also been laid with fabricated criminal charges by filed by local police and TADECO with intention to harass and to suppress the dissenting farmers.
The company headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Mechanized Battalion is located inside the fenced TADECO area in Barangay Balete, where bulldozers owned by the Cojuanco’s are parked. Preceding TADECO’s move to set up markers on disputed land, soldiers conducted a medical mission in Barangay Cutcut.
Another detachment of the paramilitary CAFGU was transferred from Barangay Lourdes to an area nearer Barangay Central and Mapalacsiao, where the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) and TADECO have been bulldozing and fencing off some 214 hectares of agricultural land. Kris Aquino, sister of the President, is now a board member of CAT.
I urge you to properly investigate the case of harassment on Hacienda Luisita farmers. Please also, ensure that the local agrarian reform office act on the pending petition filed by AMBALA last December.
Furthermore, President Aquino III and his family should refrain from intervening in the issue of disputed land and ensure that the farmers can claim the land that they have been farming for decades.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in this.
Yours sincerely,
———————————————–
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Benigno Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
2. Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
E-mail: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com
3. Police Director Alan LM Purisima
Chief, Philippine National Police
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City, Philippines
Fax +632 7248763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph
4. Ms. Leila de Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: soj@doj.gov.ph
5. Atty. Virgilio R. Delos Reyes
Secretary
Department of Agrarian Reform
Elliptical Road, Diliman
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 920-03-80
E-mail: gildlr2010@gmail.com; secgildar@gmail.com
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
