Luisita farmers fear reversal of land distribution ruling
By Ding Cervantes, The Philippine Star
January 10, 2012

 ANGELES CITY , Philippines – Farmers of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac expressed fear yesterday that the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona could pave the way for the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its decision last Nov. 22 to distribute the hacienda to farmer-beneficiaries.

The Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) and the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL) claimed that the relatives of President Aquino, whose family owns the hacienda, “scolded” him for failing to prevent the SC decision favoring the farm workers.

Ambala chairman Felix Nacpil Jr. said his group is facilitating the land distribution at the hacienda.

Ambala and AMGL have started the consultation with farmers to consolidate their position on the motion for reconsideration filed in the SC by the Cojuangcos and Aquinos last Dec. 19.

Lawyers from Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA) are representing the farmers in the case.

“As our lawyers explained, the motion was no different from their (Cojuangco-Aquino party) oral arguments. They still want to offer ‘stocks’ to the farmers and keep control over the vast lands of the hacienda. They sound like a broken record and we are hopeful that the High Court would find nothing new in their argument and keep the essence of their Nov. 22 decision,” said Nacpil.

AMGL chair Joseph Canlas called on the SC to immediately junk the motion of the Cojuangcos and continue with the land distribution.

“We know that the Chief Justice is aware that he is being impeached mainly because of the Hacienda Luisita issue,” he said.

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