Luisita farmers ask SC to dismiss HLI request

Wednesday, 01 February 2012 11:10 Lukas Velunta

Workers at the controversial Hacienda Luisita asked the Supreme Court yesterday to end the delays in the distribution of the plantation's land.

In a statement, the members of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) called for the junking of the motion filed by Hacienda Luisita, Inc. (HLI) seeking clarification and reconsideration of a 22 November 2011 ruling that mandated the distribution of the 4,915.75-hectare plantation to 6,296 famer-workers.

“There is no new matter that came out of the November 22, 2011 decision but the discarding of the mandatory option for farm worker beneficiaries,” the group said, referring to the option to grant workers stock options in HLI instead of land.

“[HLI's] appeal is a [rehash aimed] to cause setback, delay and ultimately derail Luisita’s distribution designed in accordance [with] the chief justice impeachment trial.”

The Ambala also said that LHI was not entitled to its pursuit of just compensation of PhP1.33 billion from the sale of land to the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Luisita Industrial Park, Inc. and the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, as HLI “has yet to account” for the price.

Hacienda Luisita is owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III.

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