DAR chief distances self from Luisita deal

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes on Monday distanced himself and his department from the compromise settlement reached between the Cojuangco-owned Haciena Luisita Inc. (HLI) and its farmer-beneficiaries. "The DAR was not part of this compromise agreement. We have no role in the drafting of the deal," De los Reyes told reporters after he met with Senator Gregorio Honasan, head of the Senate committee on agrarian reform. He was referring to the agreement that gave 10,000 farmers the option to retain their stocks in HLI or get their free land in the disputed 6,453-hectare sugar estate in Tarlac province. De los Reyes said he does not wish to comment on the deal because all that he knows is based on media reports. He said his department doesn't even have a copy of the compromise agreement. "[We will evaluate] the compromise agreement the moment it is officially transmitted to our office if ever," he said. He likewise said the only directive they have from President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who is related with the Cojuangco family, is to "do what is in accordance with the law." "There is no other directive other than that," he said. The DAR chief however noted that they will cooperate if ever a congressional inquiry is conducted regarding the matter. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV