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Sakdal, meaning "accuse" in Tagalog, one of the major languages in
the Philippines, signified the discontent and anger of the poor, landless
peasants who worked on the large plantations in central Luzon, Philippines, in
the early 1930s. Many of the peasants joined the Sakdal movement, founded and
headed by Benigno Ramos (fl. 1930-35), who called for lower taxes for the poor,
land reform, and the Philippines' immediate independence from the United States.
The movement gradually evolved into a political party, which drew many votes in
the 1934 Philippine fall elections. On the night of May 2, 1935, throngs of
Sakdals, many of whom were armed, took control of government buildings in 14
towns in Luzon. The next day government troops were called out and quickly
suppressed the rebellious peasants, about 100 of whom were slain in the
violence. Ramos escaped to Japan, and the Sakdal party was declared illegal and
disbanded.
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