Several militant groups on Friday marched from España Boulevard to Mendiola, Manila to mark the 34th anniversary of the 1987 Mendiola Massacre, where 13 farmers were killed.
The protesters brought placards and banners bearing calls for an end to land grabbing and killing of farmers.
"The situation of Filipino peasants when they marched from Central Luzon to Mendiola in 1987 remains unchanged, and even worse this 2021, especially with the rising cases of peasant massacres and mass killings under the Duterte administration,” said Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Chairman Danilo Ramos in a statement.
Data from farmers group Tanggol Magsasaka showed that at least 107 farmers and indigenous people have been killed under the current administration.
Ramos also condemned the alleged grabbing of agricultural lands for its conversion to infrastructure projects, leading to the destruction of crops and the displacement of farmers.
On January 22, 1987, thousands of farmers and peasants trooped to Malacañang to demand for equal land distribution and fair wages from the Cory Aquino administration.
However, the mobilization turned bloody after some protesters breached the police line. The state forces opened fired on the protesters, leaving 13 dead.
To date, no one has been charged for the deaths of the farmers and the families they left behind and those injured did not receive any compensation.