Escudero downplays politics in SC ruling on ‘Luisita’ land valuation
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court rejecting the Cojuangco family’s bid to get at least P5 billion in compensation for the Hacienda Lusita property in Tarlac.
In a chance interview at the Senate, Escudero said that he was in favor of the decision since it benefitted the farmers.
“I am not quite familiar with the merits of the case but offhand, basta nabebenepisyohan ang mga magsasaka [as long as farmers benefit from this], those who have less in life should have more in law and that’s in line with the Supreme Court decision,” Escudero told reporters.
When asked if this may be considered as bonus points for the Supreme Court, Escudero said that it would be unfair to say that the decision was politically motivated.
“Palagi nating pwedeng bigyan ng kulay pero sa dulo sino ba talaga ang tama, sino ba ang mali? Unfair din naman sa mga magsasaka na matagal nang ipinaglaban ito na sabihing pinulitika lamang kaya pinaboran sila [We can always put malice but in the end who is right and who is wrong? It would be unfair to the farmers who have been fighting for this case for so long if we say that the court favored them because of politics],” Escudero said.
Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, who is currently facing impeachment trial at the Senate, did not inhibit from the Hacienda Luisita case.
Voting 8-6 with one abstention, the Supreme Court on Tuesday junked the petition of the Aquino clan and affirmed its November 2011 decision which based the value of the Hacienda Luisita at P196 million based on 1989 prices.
The decision was also deemed “final and executory” and that the high court would no longer entertain further pleadings and motions for reconsideration.
When asked to comment on the plan of Hacienda Luisita Inc. to contest the non-valuation of the property, Escudero said:
“Ang haba-haba ng panahon na pending ito at kung titingnan mo, sa Central Luzon, ito na lamang ang natitirang parsela ng lupa na hindi pa nahahati-hati sa mga magsasaka at hindi naman siguro tama na patagalin pa [This has been pending for so long and if you look at it, in Central Luzon, this is the only remaining parcel of land that has not been distributed to farmers and it doesn’t seem right if it is further delayed],” said Escudero, referring to the 27-year old dispute.
“It has to come to a point na tumigil na ang kaso, it has to come to a point na tuldukan na ang isyu. Sana matanggap na yan ng magkabilang panig, sino man ang nakalamang, sino man ang nadehado [It has come to a point that the case must come to a close. It has come to a point that the issue must end. Hopefully both parties will accept this, regardless of who won or lost],” he added.
Escudero said that it was better that the high tribunal valued the property at P196, saying that it will not be used against President Benigno Aquino III.
“At least, this issue will not be used against President Aquino. Had the court ordered that they be paid a high amount, he [Aquino] might be questioned for paying his family a vast amount coming from the government,” Escudero added.
