Police disperse farmers protesting slow Ombudsman action on Luisita massacre

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City policemen on Friday tried to disperse some 20 farm workers of Hacienda Luisita Inc. who staged a protest action in front of the Office at the Ombusdman to push for the speedy resolution of charges they filed against military personnel involved in the Nov. 16, 2004 Hacienda Luisita massacre. Rene Galang, United Luisita Workers Union(ULWU) President, said that after 4 years, massacre victims have yet to receive justice. Galang said administrative and criminal charges filed by the victims' relatives before the Ombudsman on January 13, 2005 against the Cojuangcos, (former Labor) Secretary (Patricia) Sto. Tomas and police and military officials remain unresolved up to this date. "Nothing happened with our case at the Ombudsman, it's like that being massacred is a natural thing under the Arroyo government, justice is no way near from being served," Galang said. "We have little hope with this legal recourse, we clearly know that the government is controlled by the rich landlords like Cojuangcos and Arroyo herself, but we will not cease in yelling for justice for our martyr agri-workers, " he added. To recall, seven agricultural workers and residents of communities within the hacienda were killed when police and military forces fired to disperse protesting workers to enforce an Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) order issued by then Labor Sec. Sto. Tomas. - GMANews.TV