MANILA, Philippines -- Below is the timeline of events related to the Sumilao land case:

1990--The Department of Agrarian Reform places the 144-hectare estate owned by the Quisumbing family in Barangay San Vicente in Sumilao, Bukidnon, under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

But DAR suspends implementation because the property is still under a 10-year Crop Producer and Grower Agreement between the landowner and Del Monte Philippines.

April 1994--The agreement expires.

Sept. 25, 1995--The estate is awarded to Higaonon farmers. DAR issues Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to 137 farmers.

Oct. 13, 1995--The CLOAs are entered into the Sumilao Register of Deeds. These form the basis of the farmers' claim of vested rights over the estate.

March 29, 1996--Executive Secretary Ruben Torres issues an order allowing the conversion of the property from purely agricultural to agro-industrial use.

In applying for reclassification, the Norberto Quisumbing Sr. Management and Development Corp. had said it planned to set up a development academy, a cultural center, an institute for livelihood science, a museum, a library, a golf course, a sports development complex, an agro-industrial park, forest development and support facilities, and a hotel, restaurant, and housing project and others.

Oct. 9, 1997--Fifteen farmers start a 28-day hunger strike in front of the DAR central office in Quezon City.

Nov. 6, 1997--President Fidel Ramos modifies Torres' order, limits the conversion to 44 hectares and approves 100 hectares for distribution to farmers.

April 1999--The Supreme Court denies with finality the motions for reconsideration filed by the claimants and upholds Torres' order despite opposition from DAR officials.

The decision also voids the CLOAs issued to the farmers.

Under CARP implementing rules, the estate's owners have five years to implement the new land-use plan.

December 1999--Robin Lession, one of the farmers in the 1997 hunger strike, commits suicide in protest of the Supreme Court decision.

Feb. 6, 2002--The Quisumbing family sells part of the property to San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corp. (SMC). But farmers claim that "much of the land" remains idle.

The land is put under lease agreement with SMFI subsidiary Monterey Food Corp. (MFC).

Nov. 3, 2004--Farmers file a petition for revocation of the conversion order, saying the five-year period for the conversion of the estate's use for agro-industrial purposes has ended. They claim that none of the development projects promised by the Quisumbings has taken place.

July 10, 2006--MFC submits "Revised Development Plan for Sumilao Property" to DAR as a way of asking whether the development of the property into a hog farm is "in accordance with approved conversion of the property into agro-industrial use."

Oct. 27, 2006--Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman dismisses the farmers' petition, saying DAR has no jurisdiction over the matter as it was the Office of the President that allowed the conversion in March 1996.

Nov. 27, 2006--DAR confirms revised development plan submitted by MFC, says the Sumilao Hog Farm project is "consistent" with the "agro-industrial use" clause cited in the March 1996 ruling by the Office of the President.

Nov. 30, 2006--Farmers lodge a petition at the Office of the President seeking the cancellation/revocation of land conversion.

Oct. 3, 2007--The Office of the President dismisses the petition.

Oct. 10--Farmers begin a 1,700-kilometer march from their home village of San Vicente in Sumilao to Manila, with the intention of reaching Metro Manila in time for the observance of International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

Their "Walk for Sumilao Land, Walk for Justice" is aimed at dramatizing their demand to be finally installed in the estate.

Oct. 23--Farmers complete the march's Mindanao leg, which totaled 435 km from Sumilao to Surigao City.

Oct. 25--They start the Visayas leg of the march.

Nov. 16--The Office of the President remands dispute to DAR, says the agency has the expertise on the factual issues raised by the farmers.

Dec. 3--Farmers arrive in Metro Manila. They begin their "tour" the following day and are met by members of militant groups at the Manila Film Center. They are later escorted to the Senate in Pasay City, where they are met by a number of senators.

Dec. 5--Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales expresses support for the farmers, says he has asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to give the estate to the farmers.

Farmers perform a tribal ritual in front of SMC main office in Pasig City to protest the corporation's "witting or unwitting participation in the mockery of agrarian reform."

DAR legal counsel says the law that created CARP does not state that a new owner of a disputed property is bound by the conversion pledges made by the previous owner.

Pangandaman adds that the five-year implementing period started when the development permits were issued by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. SMC lawyer Wilfredo Peñaflor says permits were issued only in 2004.

Dec. 6--Farmers and their supporters picket the House of Representatives to call the lawmakers' attention to their plight.

Pangandaman meets with the farmers to say he is giving contending parties three days to submit position papers before he makes his decision.

Source: Inquirer Archives; compiled by Kate Pedroso, Inquirer Research