SC asked to dismiss Hacienda Luisita's motion for reconsideration

MANILA, Philippines - Militant farmers in Hacienda Luisita asked the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday to void and dismiss Hacienda Luisita Inc.’s (HLI) motion for clarification and reconsideration filed last December.

Rodel Mesa, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura secretary-general, said HLI’s motion is all about delaying the Nov. 24 SC decision ordering the distribution of Hacienda Luisita to farmworker beneficiaries.

“The SC has to give what is due the farmworkers by immediately dismissing the said motion,” he said.

“What the court should do is to nullify HLI’s Motion for Clarification and Reconsideration and at the same time mandate the Department of Agrarian Reform for the implementation of its decision to distribute Hacienda Luisita.”

Mesa said HLI’s motion puts the farmworker beneficiaries at a disadvantage by setting up legal obstacles of all sorts.

“The Cojuangco-Aquinos are obstructing the implementation of justice,” he said.

“If the court allows the beneficiaries to sell or use their land as collateral then the Cojuangco-Aquinos are back in business, paving the way for its re-concentration.

“With the money being paid by the government to the President’s relatives for compensation, they are in a very sound position to buy back Hacienda Luisita if the ten-year moratorium prohibiting the beneficiaries to sell or serve their land as collateral will be carved out on the SC decision.”

Mesa said they should not allow Aquino and his relatives to mock justice by opposing the unanimous and collective effort of the court.

“There is no reason in the world why they should not implement with finality the distribution of Hacienda Luisita by nullifying and dismissing HLI’s motion so that there will be no more room for President Aquino and his relatives to maneuver the decision.”