Written by Reychemver Credo

Intimidation and violence to the farmers including peasant women of Hacienda Yulo in Barangay Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna continued amidst the pandemic.

In a Facebook post released on August 24 by the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK), a regional peasant organization of Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Southern Tagalog, armed guards and goons of the Yulo clan totted armalite guns and rifles to a group of peasant women, including elderly who were blocking them from entering their community.

A guard introducing himself as “Kamatayan” – accompanied by barricades – led the violence to the peasantry in an attempt to loot the territory for land use conversion. This has been observed from August 22 until the present.

“As the land grabbing and displacement continue in the Hacienda Yulo or in any disputed lands in the country, the peasant women would stand firm and assert their rights to land, even though they’re faced with various harassment and other rights abuses,” Amihan National Chairperson Zenaida Soriano said.

Citing the incident as inhumane as poor sectors are confronting the brunt of the pandemic’s impact, Soriano joined KASAMA-TK in calling the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct an immediate investigation on threats on the peasants’ welfare for shelter and sources of livelihood.

Hacienda Yulo is a 7,000-hectare sugar estate formerly owned by the Yulo clan before the property was sold to the Ayala Land Inc. It covers three cities in Laguna including Calamba City, Cabuyao City, and Sta. Rosa City.

Amihan Women, an organization of peasant women advancing the call for genuine agrarian reform, believed Hacienda Yulo should be for the farmers as their ancestors plowed it for a long time; however, the government’s land reform did not cover it.

“Nananawagan kami na dapat ay singilin ang Pangulong Duterte sa mga karahasang ito. Kailangang manindigan na siya na ang mga lupaing ito ay para sa magsasaka at hindi sa mga developer,” the group said.

(With reports from Kasama Tk and Amihan Women Facebook page)