Farmers bearing the brunt of landlessness and “fascist attacks” of state forces today marched to the gates of Malacañang to press for the ouster of President Aquino, saying that injustice has heightened 27 years after the Mendiola Massacre.

Hundreds of farmers from Hacienda Luisita, Hacienda Dolores, and other areas of unresolved land disputes in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog commemorated the infamous massacre in a protest, which highlighted the need to change a system controlled by “corrupt bureaucrats serving the interests of (big landlords and businesses).”

On January 22, 1987, tens of thousands of farmers marched to Malacañang to demand genuine land reform under the newly installed administration of the late President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, mother of BS Aquino. Thirteen farmers were killed when state forces opened fire on the peasants.

Almost three decades later, farmers testify that nothing has changed.

Sally Padino, sister of slain farmer Arman Padino, said that President Aquino’s “tuwid na daan” meant death for farmers, who were being killed by either bullets or hunger.

Arman was killed when security guards in Hacienda Dolores opened fire on farmers on their way to their fields last January 12. “Kumukuha lang siya ng mga bungang-halaman para may pambaon ang mga anak niya,” (He was just foraging for root crops so that his children will have something to eat) Sally told Pinoy Weekly.

Another farmer, Noel Tumali, remains in critical condition, said Sally.

Hacienda Dolores, a 2,000-hectare land in Porac, Pampanga, is being claimed by Leonardo-Lachenal Holdings, Inc., FL Property Management Corp., and Ayala Land. Guards have fenced in lands that farmers have been tilling for decades, leaving many without livelihood.

Meanwhile, in Hacienda Luisita, farmer Rudy Corpuz said that just this morning, they received a distressed call from their fellow farmers in Brgy. Cutcut, where a scuffle with suspected Cojuangco goons just ensued.

Based on preliminary information they recieved, a military asset hit farmer Maning Gomez, a senior citizen, several times with a metal digger. The perpetrator was with several other men claiming to be engineers conducting a land survey for the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The Cojuangco-owned Tarlac Development Corporation has been pushing to exempt hundreds of hectares of lands in Hacienda Luisita from distribution. Tadeco’s moves have resulted in the arrest of farmers, and even the killing of one farmer since last year.

Farmers allege that the Cojuangco-Aquino family remains in control of Hacienda Luisita because of the DAR’s “sham” distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

“The President’s family’s lead is now being followed by their closest ally and real estate giants,” said Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chairperson Rafael Mariano.

He cited the Ayala’s involvement in land grabbing in Hacienda Dolores; the Araneta’s  land grabbing of 300 hectares in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; and the refusal of the Zobel’s to distribute 11,000 hectares in Calatagan, Batangas.

“The Filipino peasantry has had enough of Aquino’s blatant disregard of the people’s demand for justice and genuine land reform. We will work hard and link arms with the people for the realization of our call to oust Aquino and for system change,” Mariano said.