Hacienda Luisita Farmers Urge Ombudsman to Reopen The Case

MANILA – Hacienda Luisita farmers urge the Office of the Ombudsman to reopen the seven years old Hacienda Luisita murder case against the  Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and his associates including newly installed Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., and some others.

The  farmers and relatives of the victims believe that there was enough evidence to file criminal or administrative cases against those people behind the death of at least  striking farm- workers.

But the Office of the Ombudsman discharged the cases months after the November 16, 2004 incident happened at the sugar estate. . After the bloody dispersal of the assault, 7 persons died and 121 others injured.

The next day after the incident happened, Tarlac Representative Aquino made a privilege speech guarding the spread of workers saying it was “an illegal strike."

Aquino, was a House deputy speaker that time, condemned the violence, but appealed the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police members who were there were “subjected to sniper fire coming from a neighboring barangay.”

ed his associates from showing fact-finding missions that could “inflame the situation”  and he wanted to cover-up the truth behind what happened to Hacienda Luisita.

Others who were included in the motion were Aquino's newly appointed AFP Chief of Staff, who formerly held the reins at the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM). As NOLCOM chief, Catapang was accountable for the organization of the military in his area of control.

The other respondents include Aquino’s uncle, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., former Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, and former Labor Undersecretary Manuel Imson.

Now, the farm-workers hope for justice from the newly appointed Ombudsman, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Conchita Carpio-Morales