Groups under the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL) demanded justice for three farmers who were “attacked” by security guards in Hacienda Dolores in Porac, Pampanga, resulting to the death of one farmer.

According to AMGL, Arman Padino, together with father-and-son, Noel and Reynold Tumali were fired upon by alleged security guards and armed goons deployed at the said hacienda on the early morning of January 12, while the farmers were on their way to work on their farms.

The victims were brought brought to Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga, but Padino succumbed to death due to a gunshot wound in the head last Monday, while the elder Tumali was critically wounded.

The group said that the perpetrators were deployed by Leonardo-Lachenal Holdings, Inc. (LHI), FL Property Management Corp. (FL PMC) and Ayala Land.

“This is an outright barbarism of LHI, FLPMC and Ayala against the vulnerable farmers of Hacienda Dolores. This has no place in a supposedly civilized and democratic society such as ours. Join us in our condemnation and demand for justice for Padino and the Tumalis,” said Joseph Canlas, chairperson of AMGL and Anakpawis Party-list regional coordinator.

AMGL also said that when barangay officials led by Antonio Tolentino, also chairman of Association of United People of Hacienda Dolores (ANMHD), an affiliate organization of AMGL, responded to the attack, they were also fired upon by the perpetrators.

But when Tolentino led the filing of charges against the suspect, they have learned that they were being charged with malicious mischief and carnapping by LHI and FL PMC.

Canlas addded that Hacienda Dolores farmers are usual victims of abuses perpetrated by LHI, FLPMC and Ayala Land.

The group found in a fact-finding mission held October 30 to 31 of last year that the private firms fenced more than 758-hectare of lands cultivated by the farmers depriving farmers of their livelihood, forcing them into odd jobs and their children going out of school.

“Since 2011, farmers are subjected to continuing harassment by security guards and armed goons, mass arrests have been a common practice, instigated by LHI and FL PMC in collusion with the local police,” added Canlas.

Last December, Jessel Orgas survived a grenade throwing and Modesto Posadas from gunshot wounds from motorcycle-riding men. Subsequently last January 8, Ener Angeles Tolentino was arrested by two police officers while on way to work on his farm.

“These offensives of LHI, FL PMC and Ayala are comprehensive and well-coordinated. While their victims are yet to be cared for at the hospital, they had the time and resources to file charges against the real victims, and even release a biased report to the media,” Canlas said.

Meanwhile, Karapatan-Southern Tagalog demanded the immediate release of husband and wife Joel and Pritargue Almonte, who were both arrested in their house in Valenzuela City last January 9.

According to Glendhyl Malabanan, secretary general of Karapatan-ST, Joel Almonte who is a diabetic, is a known leader and organizer of fisherfolks in Laguna. Almonte and his family is renting a house in Valenzuela while having his medical treatment when arrested.

The two arre currently detained in Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna.