In the village, two men who had risked their lives to escape arrived home half-starved, emaciated and exhausted. They described their bitter experience how they had been forced to work for 16 hours a day at gun point and were given nothing but a handful of rice and a can of sardines that, they were told, was more than their wages. Everything they got at the store was triple the normal price and it was more debt. Only when the cane was cut could they go home for Christmas. Their beds were wooden shelves and the fields their only toilet. They had no showers, no comforts and no freedom.

If they try to escape they would be shot or arrested and jailed by the police, they were warned. Frightened and intimidated, they worked without protective clothing, boots or gloves. The ‘machete’ was their only tool, dirty water their only drink. None of them had the price of a pack of cigarettes. They endured the swarms of biting mosquitoes, the constant danger of deadly snakes, the erupting blisters and boils and the harsh threats of the foreman.

They were even betrayed by their own. A few were appointed guards and informers over the rest and given more food and cigarettes. They were hated and weeks later, one had his house burnt down by irate villagers.

The next day, with two Preda staff, we brought the two escapees and three villagers to Manila to the National Bureau of Investigation antihuman trafficking division (AHTRAD), under the effective command of Ferdinand Lavin and his second in command Rolan M. Demetria. Formal statements were taken and a rescue raid was planned for dawn the next day. The farmers and the Preda staff were given accommodation and overnight hospitality by Father Brian Gore at the Columban Fathers house. Himself is a veteran campaigner for the rights of sugar cane workers in Negros.

The next morning we were up at 3 am and joined the well armed 20 strong AHTRAD unit. There was briefing and advice about the proper use of firearms by Division Chief Lavin who was to lead the rescue himself. By 4 am a convoy of seven  vehicles drove at high speed 2 hours south of Manila to Sugbo, Batangas to the workers prison camp. We arrived in a open clearing and saw the barracks and guards house. It was 6:16 am and the workers were already in the fields when Chief Lavin immediately led the rescue team into the fields and I followed closely behind. Soon we found them, a raggedly dressed emaciated group. They were frightened by the drawn guns. I told them they were being rescued not arrested. The armed guards surrendered, the recruiter and the field manager were arrested. The slaves were set free.

The vast estate is owned by a leading political family but is subcontracted to a company that is a buffer between the land barons and the law. They are powerful and untouchable. In Manila expensive lawyers arranged bail and the release of the suspect slavers. The police are identifying the subcontractors and are preparing charges.

That sweet white sugar on your Christmas table (and in most processed food) is indeed the bitter taste of injustice and exploitation. The natural ‘muscuvado’ handmade sugar is healthy and made in dignity by Philippine cooperatives and exported by the Preda Fair Trade center. In the New Year that’s the rest resolution you could make, buy fair trade products and stop the slavery. Our rescue was a success and the workers were happily reunited with their families yet thousands more need to be freed.