DAR wants copy of SC ruling on Hacienda Luisita case

MANILA, Philippines - Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes yesterday expressed hope that a copy of the final ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) on the Hacienda Luisita case will soon be turned over to the department so that they could proceed with the task of land distribution.

De los Reyes said they are ready to distribute the land but will not be able to do so or at least begin the process until the SC order is in their hands and they have carefully read it.

“We will do it (distribution) immediately. Again, we will first have to conduct ocular inspection of the landholding, and valuation will follow,” he said.

He said that although the landowners can question the valuation with the DAR Adjudication Board and the Special Agrarian Court and higher courts on the matter, such challenge will not stop the acquisition and distribution process and the eventual issuance of Certificates of Land Ownership Award to beneficiaries.

De los Reyes clarified that it is the task of the Land Bank of the Philippines to determine the initial valuation for the hacienda in consideration of the conditions set by the Supreme Court and of existing applicable guidelines.

“We will be extending intensified support services in the area of Hacienda Luisita so that land distribution can be accomplished,” the DAR chief said.

De los Reyes said that he needs to read first the SC decision to check what the SC meant by using 1989 valuation rates as basis.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court unanimously voted to reaffirm a November 2011 decision to distribute some 5,000 hectares of Hacienda Luisita land to 6,000 farmer beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the lawyer of Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) pointed out that there are still questions regarding the 4,000-plus beneficiaries who were not covered by the SC ruling.

“That is now the big question. Though the HLI said it will not challenge the ruling and that no pleading will be filed, still, the HLI is concerned about the farmers,” said Antonio Ligon.

He said he will meet with concerned farm workers in Tarlac today to explain and discuss with them the SC decision.