Respect SC ruling -- solons

LAWMAKERS hailed the Supreme Court for giving the farmers of Hacienda Luisita what is due them and called on the estate owners to respect the high tribunal’s decision.

Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada said that this decision will strengthen the backbone of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

“The decision gives a renewed sense of hope to farmers and farm workers all over the country,” Tañada said.

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano urged Malacañang especially President Benigno Aquino III to respect the decision of the High Tribunal.

“The distribution of Hacienda Luisita is long overdue. President Aquino and the Cojuangco-Aquino clan must respect and comply with the High Court's decision. Acquisition of lands from the Cojuangco-Aquinos and free land distribution of lands to farmer-beneficiaries must start now,” Mariano said.

Mariano, a former President of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said that the government should start distributing the land to the farmers.

He warned the Department of Agrarian Reform as well as the Hacienda Luisita Inc. against collecting payment and land amortization from the farmer-beneficiaries.

Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus congratulated the farmers for their unwavering fight for their land and life.

“Despite extreme poverty, militarization, and human rights violations including the Luisita Massacre, they remained firm in their struggle to this day,” De Jesus said.

The woman solon then called on President Aquino to immediately direct the concerned government agencies to distribute the hacienda land.

“Another day of delay in the distribution of land is another day of injustice for the farm workers. The President must also ensure that land distribution is coupled with production assistance so as to ensure that big corporate growers will not take advantage of cash-stripped farmers,” she said.     

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide also urged President Aquino to obligate the Cojuangco-Aquino clan to follow the order of the Supreme Court to distribute the family owned Hacienda Luisita to the tillers.

George San Mateo, PISTON national president, hailed the SC ruling and at the same time called on Aquino to heed the decision and ask his family to follow the ruling.

The militant group was one of the groups that have been supporting the fight of the farmers to have a true agrarian reform in the country particularly at Hacienda Luisita.

San Mateo said that many if not all public transport drivers in metropolitan areas in the country are former farmers or scions of farmers that were forced to look for alternative jobs because of the lack of land to till.                           

by Jester Manalastas With Alvin Murcia