by magnolia_eic | Aug 17, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines – Farmer beneficiaries belonging to the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita (AMBALA) has asked the Supreme Court yesterday to nullify the compromise agreement signed by the HLI with a faction of the farmers ealier this month.
The AMBALA said they were misrepresented in the signing of the deal last Aug. 6.
In a 30-page petition, AMABALA urged the Supreme Court to proceed with the oral arguments set for tomorrow and resolve the case based on the issues presented. The group pointed out the resolution of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in 2005 that revoked the stock distribution option scheme since it was found to be in violation of the CARP Law.
The so-called majority who chose such scheme does not cure the illegality and invalidity of the SDO.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 16, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines – The compromise agreement between Hacienda Luisita and its farmers does not automatically resolve their dispute before the Supreme Court.
Jose Midas Marquez, SC spokesman, said there is a possibility that the Supreme Court would still act on the long-standing dispute between the management of the hacienda and its farmers.
“Once the court assumes jurisdiction over a particular case, a petition filed would not be moot just because a compromise has been reached among the parties. The case would still be subject to the final review of the court,” Marquez explained. The spokesman also gave the assurance that the court would review the compromise agreement and make sure it would be beneficial to both parties, adding that there have been previous agreements that are one-sided.
by magnolia_eic | Jul 30, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ruled that the sugar mill in the plantation owned by President Aquino’s family had acted in “bad faith” when it’s workers 13th month pay was reduced following the violent strike that resulted to the death of 14 people.
In a July 26 unanimous decision released yesterday, the court’s second division ordered Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) to honor its long-established formula in computing the bonus.
Observing that the benefit enjoyed for over 30 years was only reduced after the violent strike that happened in 2004, the Supreme Court declared that “this act of petitioner in changing the formula at this time cannot be sanctioned as it indicates a badge of bad faith”.
Click here for full article from Inquirer
by magnolia_eic | Jun 21, 2010 | Headlines
Manila, Philippines — Chief Justice Renato Corona has issued an order to review the long-standing labor dispute over the Hacienda Luisita Estate of the family of President-elect Benigno Aquino III in Tarlac.
Recalling from previous news, Aquino does not recognize Corona’s appointment.
The reason behind such order according to Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez was that there had been a letter from the farmers in Hacienda Luisita requesting for Corona to act on the case and review the four-year-old temporary restraining order (TRO) against distribution of the sugar plantation in accordance with the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
A line from the letter said, “We humbly submit to your Honorable Office our appeal asking the Supreme Court to act with dispatch and resolve the controversial agrarian case of Hacienda Luisita in favor of agrarian reform beneficiaries..”. The letter was signed by the leaders of the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura.
Click here for full article from Philstar.com
by boholbalita | Apr 26, 2010 | Election 2010, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
Kapin sa usa ka libo (1,000) ka tenante nga nagpuyo sa yuta Rodriguez, Rizal nga gipanag-iya sa pamilya ni Liberal Party Vice-Presidentiable bet Sen. Mar Roxas II, nanawagan sa magbabalaud nga ipahangyo ang iyang inahan nga bakwion ang iyang pagsupak sa pag-apod-apod sa yuta ug ipa ilawom sa agrarian reform program.
Sa usa ka press briefing, si Felipe Jalago, spokesman sa farmer-beneficiaries sa Hacienda Araneta sa Barangay Mascap, nihagit ni Roxas nga iyang barugan ang iyang gipamulong nga siya pro-poor ug pro-farmer.
“We already hold certificates of full payment and certificates of land tax payments,” si Jalago nagkanayon.
Hinuon siya nag-ingon nga ang yuta dili maapod apod ngadto kanila tungod kay ang pamilya sa inahan ni Mar Roxas, ang mga Araneta, ni petition alang sa conversion sa yuta ngadtos commercial-residential area.
Kadaghanan sa mga mag-uuma nakahuman na ug bayad sa yuta nga gihata kanila sa tuig 1972 ilawom sa Presidential Decree 27 sa Land Bank of the Philippines.
Ang balaud naghatag ug automatic nga pagbalhin sa kayutaan ngadto sa mga nagtikad nga mga mag-uuma kinsa nibayad ug regular sa ilang mga buwis sa local nga pangagamhanan.
“We appeal to you, (Roxas), your mother and the Aranetas not to pursue the cases anymore so that we can truly own the land,” siya nagkanayon.
Sayo niini, ang mga nagprotestang mga mag-uuma sa hacienda ang gipanag-iya ni Liberal Party Presidentable Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, nanawagan sa Suprene Court (SC) nga mu aksyon sa ilang gi-angkon nga 6,453 ka ektaryang plantasyon ug tubo sa dili pa mag eleksyon.
Ang mga miyembro sa United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU), Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Hasyenda Luisita (Ambala), ug Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) nihangyo sa Korte Suprema nga tangtangon ang four-year temporary restraining batok sa pag apo-apod sa plantasyon ngadto sa 10,000 farmer beneficiaries.
