Aquino: Family will comply with Hacienda Luisita ruling

Friday, November 25, 2011

MANILA (Updated) -- President Benigno Aquino III assured Friday that his relatives will respect and comply with a Supreme Court (SC) decision mandating the distribution of Hacienda Luisita land to farmer-beneficiaries.

In an interview during the First National Media Conference on Climate Change in Legaspi, Albay, the President said defying a ruling from the highest court in the land is not an option for the Cojuangcos, family of her late mother and former President Corazon Aquino.

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The Cojuangco clan owns nearly 5,000 hectares of the agricultural estate in Tarlac, which the High Court on Thursday said should be distributed to 6,296 farm worker-beneficiaries who tilled the lands for years.

The Hacienda Luisita Incorporated (HLI) was also ordered to pay the farmers P1.3 billion.

“When the Supreme Court made an order, there should really be compliance. I don't think that is optional,” said Aquino.

The HLI can still file a motion for reconsideration within 15 days upon receiving the court’s order.

HLI’s lawyer Antonio Ligon earlier said they have to study the decision first before deciding on their next step.

The President declined to comment whether he agrees with the court’s decision as he has yet to read the SC ruling.

"Do I agree with the decision? I don't think we have gotten a copy of the decision of the Supreme Court… In law, every detail is important. It would be irresponsible for me to comment on hearsay," he said.

He also refused to speculate on the timing of the issuance of the SC decision. “I will adhere to the presumption of regularity at this point in time unless given contrary evidence.”

The President said he has other pressing matters before his table aside from the Hacienda Luisita issue.

While he refused to give a categorical statement on the SC decision, Aquino reminded that in agrarian reform, both the farmers and the land owners should have "just compensation".

"In agrarian reform, there are two objectives: number one, empower the farmers so that they could have their own land to till. Second, don’t exhaust the capital. There should be just compensation for the land owner. The capital that will be returned to the landowner could be used to invest in other endeavors," he said.

"The two objectives should have been met. One sector should not be favored over the other," he added.

Malacanang earlier distanced the President from the issue, noting that Aquino already divested his shares since he was elected president in 2010. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)