Mendiola Massacre

           The Mendiola massacre happened on January 22, 1987 when a group of about 20,000
farmworkers decided to march towards Malacañang palace, but the supposed peaceful protest
turned into a bloody dispersal that took the lives of 13 farmers.
          On January 15, 1987, the farmers began their encampment at what was then the Ministry
of Agrarian Reform that was led by Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP) and its national
president, Jaime Tadeo. Then on January 20, the Minister of Agrarian Reform, Heherson
Alvarez, met with Tadeo and promised to lift their problems and demands to President Corazon
Aquino at a meeting of the Cabinet. On January 22, the group decided to bring their demand to
Malacañang, hoping that they will have a communication with Aquino. The protesters headed to
the police line at around 4:30 pm and started pushing against the barricade. There was an
explosion, followed by stones and bottles being thrown. There were steel bars, wooden clubs and
lead pipes used against the police. Through their shields and truncheons, the police fought back.
The Police Line had been breached. Suddenly, they heard shots. According to reports, Anti-riot
troops disguised as civilians, opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing 13, with 39 critical shots
and injuring countless more protesters.
          To facilitate the filing of criminal charges against all those responsible for the violent
dispersal, Aquino formed the Citizens' Mendiola Committee. The House Committee on Human
Rights recommended compensation for the victims. But no one was punished for the farmers'
deaths and the survivors and victim’s family did not received any compensation.