RULING / GMA DOING WELL AT VMMC
MANILA, FEBRUARY 2, 2012
(STANDARD) by Rey E. Requejo - HACIENDA Luisita's farmers have
asked the Supreme Court to "stay the course" and sustain its November 2011
decision mandating the distribution of the vast 4,915.75-hectare sugar land
estate owned by the family of President Benigno C. Aquino III in Tarlac.
In their comment, farmers belonging to Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa
Asyenda Luisita asked the high tribunal to dismiss the motion for clarification
and reconsideration filed by Hacienda Luisita Inc. last month and order the
immediate implementation of land distribution to the original 6,296
farmer-beneficiaries.
Ambala, through lawyer Jobert Pahilga, stressed that HLI's appeal held no
merit and was only meant to delay the distribution process.
"Their appeal is a rehashed aimed to cause setback, delay and ultimately
derail Luisitas distribution designed in accordance on the chief justice
impeachment trial," the farmers group said.
They also said HLI's claim on the issue of just compensation and the
return
of P1.333 billion in proceeds for the sale of 500 hectares to Rizal
Commercial Banking Corp. and Luisita industrial Park Inc. and 80.51 hectares
used in the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway were already resolved in both rulings
of the high court on July 5 and November 22 last year.
"The motion of HLI should be considered a second motion for reconsideration
proscribed by the Rules of Court and should be denied outright," Ambala argued.
Pahilga said the only issue raised by HLI in their appeal of the July 5
ruling was whether the farm workers have the option to choose between actual
land distribution and stocks.
However, in the 22 November 2012 resolution, the Supreme Court unanimously
resolved to discard the option to choose and ordered the actual distribution of
land to the farm workers, the lawyer said.
Ambala agreed with the ruling of the high court that they would never have
control over these agricultural lands for as long as they remain stockholders of
HLI.
"During the operation of HLI, the farm workers were not given any dividends.
They remained the minority stockholders.
They have no control on the use and disposition of the assets of the
corporation including the land.
They have no say in the corporate business ventures.
Their hours of work were dictated by the corporation.
In short, they were at the mercy of the petitioner-movant," the group noted.
FROM THE BULLETIN
New Minority Leader Visits Arroyo By CHARISSA M.
LUCI February 1, 2012, 6:38pm
MANILA, Philippines — Detained former President and Pampanga Rep.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seems to be doing well at the Veterans Memorial Medical
Center (VMMC) in Quezon City, but she is still experiencing some "pain and
discomfort," newly installed Minority Leader Danilo Suarez (photo)
disclosed Wednesday.
The new chief of the House opposition bloc, who visited Mrs. Arroyo on
Tuesday night, said. "She looks well and she's happy."
Talking to reporters at Wednesday's weekly minority conference, Suarez said
Mrs. Arroyo has no longer a neck brace.
But she "is still in some pain and discomfort although she started to feel an
improvement in her condition," he said.
Mrs. Arroyo has been under house arrest since December 9, 2011 following the
electoral sabotage charges slapped against her by Pasay City Regional Trial
Court Branch 112.
Suarez said that while eating durian and dried plum or champoy, they
discussed whether or not the House leadership should call for a special election
or name a caretaker for the district of the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio
"Iggy" Arroyo.
The House leadership remains undecided on how to address the leadership
hiatus in Negros Occidental's fifth district following Iggy's demise on Jan. 26.
The minority leader aired the ex-Chief Executive's wish to attend the wake of
her brother-in-law, whose remains are set to arrive in Manila later this week
from London.
"We hope that she will be allowed (to attend). It is not right if they would
not accommodate her request," Suarez said.
He said they did not discuss impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice
Renato Corona, who was appointed by the former President just before she left
Malacañang.
Suarez appealed anew to the House leadership to assist Mrs. Arroyo in getting
access to phones or laptops so she can carry out her legislative work.
"All she has in her room is a television. That's why I am asking the Speaker
to help us restore the use of cellular phone for her legislative work," he
said.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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