Mediation in Luisita suspended

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court-initiated mediation to end the dispute between Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) and its farmer- beneficiaries through amicable settlement has been suspended after parties failed to reach an agreement after six meetings within the 30-day period prescribed by the court.

The panel chaired by retired SC justice Alicia Austria- Martinez has opted to leave to the High Court the decision on whether or not to continue with the mediation considering the refusal of a faction of farmers from the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid ng Hacienda Luisita (AMBALA) to participate in the proceedings.

Martinez will submit a report to the High Tribunal on what transpired during the six meetings held on Sept. 8, 9, 14, 20, 22 and yesterday.

Lawyer Tony Ligon, spokesman of HLI, told reporters after the closed-door meeting that the mediation panel decided for the suspension after AMBALA did not join the proceedings and since the remaining parties did not agree on the proposal to conduct a referendum to allow beneficiaries to choose between land distribution and stock distribution options being offered by the estate owned by the family of President Aquino.