MANILA, Philippines—Impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona said he earned the ire of President Benigno Aquino because he blocked the bid of the Cojuangcos to have government pay P10 billion for Hacienda Luisita.
“To the Hacienda Luisita farmers, you have to understand that your case is the root of this impeachment case. I caught their ire when we [the Supreme Court] released our decision,” Corona said over GMA News’ Unang Hirit.
“I was the one who blocked the bid for the payment of P10 billion just compensation,” said the Chief Justice. “I have to be removed so that they can be paid that amount.”
Hacienda Luisita, a 4,915.75 -hectare sugar estate in Tarlac, is owned by the maternal relatives of Aquino.
The high court on November 22 last year ordered the distribution of the sugarcane plantation to 6,296 farmer-beneficiaries. It pegged the amount of compensation to the 1989 valuation of P40,000 per hectare.
However, the Hacienda Luisita Inc. in a motion to the Supreme Court said the 1989 valuation was wrong and that the 2006 market price should be followed where the land price was P2.25 million per hectare.
The leftwing Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the Hacienda Luisita issue has “tarnished the impeachment process.”
“Allegations that the government is supporting the P10 billion compensation for Luisita should not be taken lightly,” Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes.
“It is one issue that has tarnished the impeachment process because it appears the regime is trying to advance its self-serving interests amid moves to make Corona accountable,” he said.
Reyes dared Aquino to order the government counsel to support the Hacienda Luisita farmers and drop the bid for a P10 billion compensation.