FREE DISTRIBUTION OF HLI LANDS IS TRUE ESSENCE OF GENUINE LAND REFORM – GWP REP. EMMI DE JESUS

“The Luisita farmers have already paid for the land with their own blood and life. They have made the land productive for years and have made the Cojuanco family rich and powerful. Asking for compensation for the land is another injustice for the farmers,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the statement of President Aquino that the landowners should be justly compensated for giving up their land.


“Free land distribution is just the first step towards genuine land reform. Instead of asking for land compensation, President Aquino must direct proper government agencies to give the farmers all the much needed support to make the land as productive, if not more productive than ever,” explained De Jesus.


“The Cojuanco family in fact, should reimburse the farmers for billions of pesos they received for the sale of some parts of Hacienda Luisita, such as P750 million for the 300 hectares sold to Centennary Holdings; and P80.5 million for the 80.5-hectares sold to the Bases Conversion Development Authority for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway,” ended the Gabriela solon. Rowena Festin, Media Relations Staff, Office of Representative Emmi De Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party