A truly historic victory for Filipino farmers?

Hacienda Luisita should be distributed to the farmers, according to the Supreme Court.

 Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. wrote,“In line with our finding that control over agricultural lands must always be in the hands of the farmers, we consider our ruling that the qualified FWBs [farmworker beneficiaries] should be given an option to remain as stockholders of (Hacienda Luisita Inc.), inasmuch as these qualified FWBs will never gain control given the present proportion of (the) shareholdings.”

 If indeed the Supreme Court justices firmly believe that “control over agricultural lands must always be in the hands of the farmers,” then their decision about Hacienda Luisita should be heralded as a victory not only for the farmers of Hacienda Luisita but of all farmers throughout this country!!!

 The SC decision will embolden more farmers to go to court for control of lands they have tilled for so many generations.

 If the SC will be consistently fair with regards to this issue, then control of the lands of the Arroyos as well, and all other large landowners all throughout the country, should be transferred to all farmers, in due time.

 It is, certainly, about time that genuine land transfer be implemented for the sake of our farmers who have clamored, fought, with their lives even, to finally own the lands that they have tilled for so many decades.

 Finally, a day of victory for all Filipino farmers?

 Will the farmers of the sugar lands in Negros and Pampanga, of the banana and pineapple plantations in Mindanao, of the coconut, rice and corn farms all throughout the country truly rejoice with this SC ruling?

 For the sake of the millions of farmers and their families, yes, we hope that SC ruling is genuine and truly intends for them to be the rightful owners, finally, of their lands.

 They can bring their case to courts and if the lower courts refuse to give them land ownership, then they can elevate their case to the SC, and with this Hacienda Luisita ruling which states that “control over agricultural lands MUST ALWAYS BE IN THE HANDS OF THE FARMERS,” then they will emerge victors, right?

 Again, for the sake of our farmers and their children and their children’s children, we hope that the SC issued the ruling because the justices truly believe that the farmers deserve to be the rightful owners of their tilled lands and not because they wanted to get back at PNoy.

 We hope the SC justices ruled in favor of the farmers because they believed in the farmers and not because they are engaged in a fight with the executive branch. We hope that the SC ruling was made because the GMA appointees truly sided with the farmers and not merely to spite PNoy.

 Otherwise, if the SC justices used the farmers to get back at PNoy, sooner or later, the farmers will learn the truth. In time, the farmers will themselves understand the truth behind the present SC ruling. Not only the farmers but the landowners and the rest of the Filipino people will, in time, realize whom the SC justices are truly serving, the truth and the Filipino people.

 We continue to pray for our people, for our country, even for the SC justices, for all those in power that they truly serve the truth, God, and our people.

 We continue to pray for the flyover issue as well. Everyone is invited to the 9th Dawn Rosary this Saturday, November 26.

 Rudy Alix posted the following message: “Let us all be there. Let us all pray for the best outcome for the two meetings which will be held on Monday: 1) the meeting between PNoy, Mayor Mike, citizen Del Mar and Cong. Cutie in Malacañang, and, 2) the RDC meeting in Bohol which MLC members will attend. Cong. Tom Osmeña will be there. Let us pray for the furtherance of best interests of the Cebuanos. As before, expect some people to show hostility, and we hope that in the face of such, we will do the right thing.”

***

Email: [email protected]