With once was a new beginning and a new hope to every Filipino, the new administration lead by the mass elected president, Cory Aquino turned into a new struggle among the mass. As the former president – the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos left the country in national debt with a plunging economy. It was then a challenge for the new administration lead by Aquino to set change and to turn away the country from the crises the Marcoses have left. With the ending of martial law in the country, a new beginning gave the people hope. Unfortunately, the hope was only a hope.
Almost a year after the People Power Revolution, yet again the people are met with the face of abuse and violence. A fresh start turned into a grim event killing at least 12 protesters. On January 22, 1987 – 34 years from now, the Mendiola Massacre had taken place.
Give land for free to farmers, zero retention of lands by landlords, stop amortizations, this is what the Filipinos protests. After the years of abuse Filipino farmers faced during the Marcos dictatorship, with the new administration, the farmers hoped for a better agrarian reform that frees them from abuse and gives them rights. The years of struggle and being unheard resulted in a protest. On January 15, 1987, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas which was then led by Jaime Tadeo encamped in the Ministry of Agrarian Reform in Diliman, Quezon City. The protest was then taken into Mendiola a week after where the peaceful protest resulted in a violent dispersal killing at least 12 protesters while injuring at least 51. The question will always be who is to be blamed and who is to bring these unjust killings justice? It seems that even after martial law, violence and military forces are still being used. Whether the protesters initiated, these killings will never be justified and remain unjustly.
In an Interview, Gen. Ramon Montano, a military officer during the Aquino presidency did admit that the military forces “overreacted” thus proving that these killings are unjust. Proving to us that even time immemorial, military violence is always present. Such government personnel is trigger happy. It is then we realize that the government will always choose violence toward its people.
Justice was never truly given after the even, no one was punished and compensations for the families of the victims were never made. 34 years after, justice was still not given and the land reform which the farmers and the victims fought for is still put to waste. As a result, this deferred militant groups such as the PDF, National Democratic Front of the Philippines from peace talks. These groups did not choose violence on their own accord but were forced into it as their hopes were met with guns and violence.
Today we commemorate the Mendiola Massacre, we remember the year-long fight, struggle, and abuse Filipino farmers face. And up to this date, land reforms are still being ignored and denied as those who are seated in the government are, ironically, landowners.
We need to remember that protest does not equate to riot. Voices of the unheard should not be met with guns and violence. The people have the right to be heard and to voice out criticisms, frustrations, and opinions to the government. Why should they be met with violence up to the point of killings? Until we find a way to oust these self-serving politicians, the struggles and the fight remains. – The Freehand Opinion/Elvin Rae B. De Leon
Illustration by: Vincent S. Abbang
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