Farmers urge SC to reaffirm decision on Hacienda Luisita amid impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines—Militant group urged the Supreme Court justices to “keep their sense of justice intact and immovable” amidst the controversy surrounding the high court and the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“The Supreme Court should reaffirm their decision last year…We strongly appeal to the 13 remaining justices to keep their sense of justice intact and immovable,” the group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas through national chair Fernando Hicap said Monday.

They said with the pronouncements made by the Chief Justice last January 16, he can no longer participate in the deliberation thus, it is up to the remaining Justices to decide on the appeal to reconsider last year’s ruling to distribute the Hacienda Luisita land to its farmworkers.

Corona, in his speech at the start of the impeachment trial against him accused President Benigno Aquino III whose family owns the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) of getting back at him for their ruling last year.

In their decision, the high court set aside the option given to farmers to remain stockholders of Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI).

The high court justices unanimously agreed that the contested land should be distributed by HLI to the original 6,296 farmer beneficiaries pursuant to the order of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) in 2005.

The high court also ordered HLI to pay the original beneficiaries some P1.33 billion earned from selling 500 hectare portion of the disputed estate.

Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) Secretary General Rodel Mesa said “the family of President Aquino does not want give up the land to legitimate owners of Hacienda Luisita.”

Mesa also said “Aquino never did divest his interest in Luisita, his statements after the decision can attest on that. On one hand he is for land distribution but on the other he is going after compensation as it was reflected on their motion for clarification and reconsideration urging the high court to remold major issues such as compensation and beneficiaries”.

HLI already filed their motion for reconsideration seeking a reversal of the high court’s ruling last year. PARC has 20 days to respond.