By HOMER TEODORO
CENTRAL LUZON TV
HACIENDA LUISITA, TARLAC CITY–Farmers of Hacienda Luisita were jubilant when they heard from their leaders in Metro Manila Thursday morning that the Supreme Court has junked the Stock Distribution Option and ordered the Hacienda Luisita, Incorporated to distribute the more than 6,000 hectares of land to the more than 5,000 farmers of the sugarcane plantation that belongs to the family of President Aquino.
They beat drums made of recycled tin cans making sounds of joy. One even climbed the tractor and declared on top of his voice that they won against the Cojuangcos.
Feliz Nacpil, Jr. a.k.a. “Ka Dec”, chairman of Alyansang Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA), said since Tuesday they waiting for the High Court’s decision. He said they were prepared go to Manila in case the decision and rally in front of the SC if the decision was not favorable to them.
“But now, look at our people. When they heard the good news they were so happy. The peasant farmers won! Now, they are so happy because they can till the land they fought for, the land which the Cojuangcos grabbed from them. It was a long battle,” Nacpil said.
Nacpil called on the Cojuangco family to distribute the land to the rightful beneficiaries as soon as possible. “We are very hopeful that they will respect the SC’s decision. They themselves want to have peace in the Hacienda Luisita. They should abide by the Court’s decision,” he said.
An emotional Josephine Garcia waved the placard that says “Karapatan ng mga magsasaka ipaglaban! (Fight for the rights of farmers.)”
“Ay maraming salamat, na naipaglaban namin ang karapatan sa lupa. Salamat din sa mga media na tumulong sa aming laban. (We are thankful that we fought for our right to this land. We thank media for helping us), ” she said in tears.
Florida Sibayan was dancing all over the place. “Ang laban ng mga ninuno nang mga magulang namin, ang mga magulang ko at magulang namin ay mayroon ng katarungan. Ang dapat manalo sa lupa ay nagwagi na kaya masayang masaya kami.( Our forefathers’ fight finally achieved justice. The ones who should win, won so we are very happy.)”
Virginia Paligutan said “Napapaiyak na ako ngayon dahil ang anak ko ay isa sa mga nagmalasakit dito. Isa siya sa mga lumaban at namatay para sa lupa kaya ngayon ay nagpapasalamat ako ng maraming marami dahil nanalo siya sa kanyang laban.(I cried because my son was one of those who fought and died for this cause. I’m very thankful because he won.)” Her son Bal Paligutan joined the rebels in the mountains after the so called “Hacienda Luisita Massacre” in 2004. Bal died in an armed encounter.
Even the children joined the jubilation of their parents as they took the flags they used in rallies and played as if they were also a rally.
Gary Gonzales, vice-chairman of AMBALA said they plan to gather all the stock certificates HLI gave them as stock shares and tear them in front of the TV cameras to show their indignation. He said their leaders will meet as soon as possible to propose to the people what they plan to do with the land they fought for. One of the possible options is for AMBALA to manage the land so that it will not fall into the wrong hands or else all that they fought for will amount to nothing.