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GMA and NOLCOM are lying again, there is no military pull-out in Hacienda Luisita

Rene Galang
President
United Luisita Workers’ Union

October 31, 2005

After the brutal murder of CATLU president Ricardo Ramos, the government announced that it would withdraw the military from Hacienda Luisita. Media carried the news that turned out to be another blatant lie: There is no military pullout in the hacienda.

The day the announcement was made there was a very visible display of troops being moved out of the barrios. Bit it was only that: a show.

In Barangay Parang, Concepcion, one of the barangays comprising the hacienda, at least 70 soldiers remained to date. In Barangay Balete some 100 soldiers are still camped at the Aqua Farm compound located at the edge of the barrio. In Barangay Central, at least three soldiers are deployed as well as in the rest of the barangays. Scores of heavily armed CAFGU personnel stalk the hacienda.

A platoon of soldiers who were moved out of the hacienda merely encamped near the barangay hall in Barangay San Miguel only within 100 meters from the gates of NOLCOM and across the Macarthur Highway from the hacienda.

At dawn yesterday, October 30 in Barangay Balete, a hut of the striking workers along the main entry road near the East Gate of Las Hacienda de Luisita Subdivision was burned by soldiers. Some nine soldiers who rented a house beside the house of ULWU president Rene Galang are still in the barangay to the discomfort of the people.

Also last Saturday, October 29, the two soldiers who were identified as being involved in the killing— Sgt. Roderick “Joshua” dela Cruz and Sgt. Romy Castillo—were monitored in Barangay Balete trying to find people whom they can use as witnesses to establish an alibi on the night of the murder. The alibi is news today.

We condemn the duplicity of NOLCOM, the Cojuangco-Aquino family and the Arroyo government to cover up the murder. As they did in the November 16, 2004 Hacienda Luisita massacre, they are again laying the blame on others on what is their own handiwork.

But in spite of these shameful and evil efforts there is no question on the minds of our people who killed CATLU president Ric Ramos. #

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