Isabela Nicole

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Remembering the Mendiola Massascre, Jan. 22 1987, perpetuated by Cory Aquino’s soldiers.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (“Peasants’ Movement of the Philippines”), a militant farmers’ group led by Jaime Tadeo, demanded genuine agrarian reform from the Aquino government.

On January 22, 1987, the farmers decided to march to Malacañan Palace in order to air their demands instead of negotiating with Heherson Alvarez. Marching from the Quezon City Memorial Circle, Tadeo’s group was joined by members of other militant groups: Kilusang Mayo Uno (May One Movement),Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance), League of Filipino Students and Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (Unity Congress of the Urban Poor). At 1:00 in the afternoon, the marchers reached Liwasang Bonifacio and held a brief presentation. At around the same time, anti-riot personnel under the command of Capital Regional Command commander Gen. Ramon Montaño, Task Force Nazareno under the command of Col. Cesar Nazareno and police forces under the command of Western Police District Chief Brig. Gen. Alfredo Lim were deployed around the vicinity of Malacañang.

The marchers numbered 10,000–15,000 by the time they reached Claro M. Recto Avenue. They clashed with the police, and the police lines were breached. At this point, gunshots were heard and the marchers disengaged from the melee, retreating towards Claro M. Recto Avenue. Sporadic gunfire could be heard amidst the withdrawal. 

Twelve marchers were immediately confirmed dead; later sources would cite thirteen. Thirty-nine had gunshot wounds and 12 sustained minor injuries. On the state security forces’ side, three sustained gunshot wounds and 20 suffered minor injuries.

In remembrance of the Mendiola Massacre and to those that died or whose families were greatly affected by this, to this day. I know that these images are hard to look at, but people need to know that the Mendiola Massacre is still relevant, that you may not hear of the struggle farmers in the Philippines continue to deal with, but their lives are still ruled by CARP, which has left families whose lives depended on farming, landless and basically unemployed. Some people tend to focus on the number of people that died to determine whether or not a tragedy like this is even important enough to think about, but you see, 25 years later, justice still hasn’t been served. No one was ever questioned or punished for the massacre, and yet the Malacañang sees no reason to reopen the case. But it makes sense, right? That unfortunately, nothing has been done. After all, the president at the time who was responsible for perpetuating the Mendiola Massacre is the mother of the current president of the Philippines. But the Cojuangco-Aquinos have a long history that directly relates to the Mendiola Massacre—they are a big part of the reason why so many farmers remain landless and poor and the reason why 25 years later, people are still fighting for justice.