A dead man’s wish, delivered through his wife, is for the return to sobriety and normalcy in Hacienda Luisita.
The late Ricardo Ramos, slain leader of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU), was also said to have wanted the sugar mill to resume operations for the sake of his surviving fellow workers and their families.
"Para po matahimik ang kaluluwa niya, at maging masaya naman siya sa kabilang buhay, sana po ay muling makapag-trabaho ang mga manggagawa ng Hacienda Luisita," said Lily, 40, widow of Ramos, 51, who was shot dead last Tuesday in his own backyard in Barangay Malapacsiao, Tarlac City.
The grieving widow reportedly delivered this message "from beyond" to officials of the Hacienda Luisita, Inc. during the wake for the slain leader last Thursday. HLI condoled with the wife and three children of Ramos who, during the fatal shooting, was celebrating with fellow workers after reaching an agreement with the sugar mill management.
The management had just released
R8 million as back wages to the sugar mill workers, preparatory to a resolution of the full-blown labor dispute that even resulted in a bloody military and police dispersal of the picket lines last November.
The strikers want better wages and reinstatement of their labor leaders and fellow workers. It was learned that, after Ramos’ group met with the management last Oct. 22, all that’s needed is the signing of an agreement to resume the sugar mill operations.
"Alam ko po na hindi siya (Ramos) makakapayag na hindi matuloy ang pagbubukas ng sugar mill dahil ang nais po niya bago siya namatay ay makita na nagta-trabaho uli ang mga kasamahan niya.
"Nakita po niya kasi ang hirap na dinanas ng mga tao nuong nagsara ang sugar mill dahil sa strike. Alam ko po na ang gusto niya ay makapagtrabaho uli ang mga tao bago man lang siya mailibing," added the widow.
Ramos, also a barangay captain and now hailed as a hero by his peers, would be laid to rest on Wednesday.
Relatedly, Joey Romasanta, vice president for corporate affairs and spokesman for Jose Cojuangco and Sons, appealed for government help in keeping the peace and order in the sprawling Hacienda Luisita.
"Everybody in the hacienda is calling for peace. I appeal to the authorities to do something and help us get back to our previous peaceful and productive lives."
Romasanta added that, as per instructions of the Cojuangco clan, the HLI will extend all assistance to Ramos’ family and other victims of violence in the hacienda.
"We are also ordered to continue having dialogues with the Hacienda Luisita workers, non-striking or otherwise, and keep all doors wide open in search for a lasting solution to the problem."
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army Special Operation Troop Detachment in Barangay Mapalacsiao, Tarlac City was pulled out yesterday in order not to hamper the ongoing investigation on the killing of the Luisita labor union leader.
The pull out was effected after Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 director Chief Supt. Alejandro R. Lapinid and AFP Northern Luzon (NOLCOM) commanding Maj. Gen. Romeo P. Tolentino agreed to the pullout.
This developed after Task Force Ramos headed by PRO 3 deputy director for operations Senior Supt. Perfecto Palad recommended the pullout to Lapinid and Tolentino.
Initial investigation showed that Ramos was shot twice on his head at "close range" by an unidentified suspect while having a drinkings spree last Tuesday night with some of his fellow workers in a nipa hut in Barangay Mapalacsiao.
In his report to PNP chief Director General Arturo C. Lomibao, Lapinid said cartographic sketches of two possible suspects were obtained after some witnesses revealed that two alleged Army personnel from the Mapalacsiao detachment were seen twice in the vicinity of the barangay few hours before Ramos was gunned down.
The witnesses identified them as a certain Sgt. Castillo and Sgt. Joshua de la Cruz.
Castillo and De la Cruz were immediately invited by the task force for investigation. (with a report by Yul Malicse)
