Luisita execs ‘not serious’ in settling land dispute — Monsod

A lawyer for a group of Hacienda Luisita farmers on Monday cast doubts on the sincerity of the sugar estate management in reaching an amicable settlement in the 21-year land dispute. Veteran lawyer Christian Monsod, who represents Farmworkers Agrarian Reform Movement, said Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) is not taking seriously the mediation proceedings initiated by the Supreme Court. Monsod made the statement after the HLI refused to settle with the state-owned Landbank's valuation for the 6,453-hectare sugar plantation owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III. Instead, HLI decided to tap a private entity to determine the land's value. Because of HLI's move to get an independent appraiser, the three-member mediation panel formed by the Supreme Court suspended its proceedings on Monday. "The mediation didn't accomplish anything. [From] the posturing of Hacienda Luisita, it is clear they're not serious about moving. The valuation is the first step. Independent appraisal is not part of agrarian reform procedures," Monsod told reporters. "We have not moved at all" "It is now clear to us that Hacienda Luisita was never serious in the first place. And I'm glad it came out today that they want a private valuation, they want a referendum. In other words, we have not moved at all," he added. Sought for comment, HLI spokesman Antonio Ligon's said Monsod's pronouncements were irresponsible. "You cannot ascribe something to any party without any clear support," he said. "Besides when you enter into something, you should always have an open mind and you have concept of good faith that the other party should be trusted with. With due respect again, that is an irresponsible statement and I don't agree with that." The referendum Monsod referred to was the voting system where farmers will choose whether they prefer land distribution or the Stock Distribution Option agreement forged in May 1989. Another compromise deal was inked in August 6 this year that paved the way for another referendum. Like in 1989, majority of the farmers this year voted to remain under the SDO scheme, where they will be given shares of stocks instead of land. Monsod said holding another referendum after the mediation will be similar to what happened after the August 6 "nebulous" compromise deal, which has been criticized as a sham agreement because the farmer-signatories were supposedly illegitimate representatives of farmers' groups. Land distribution first before referendum He argued that the land should be distributed to the farmers first before making them decide whether they want land or stocks. "The HLI wants to proceed with the referendum while the valuation is pending, so we're back to the flawed compromise agreement where farmers will chose on some nebulous alternative," said Monsod. "We're saying empower the farmers first and emancipate them first by giving them the land and make them choose what they want. That's real empowerment," he added. The Supreme Court formed the three-member mediation panel last August 31 and was given 30 days to complete its task. Retired SC Justice Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez chairs the panel, with retired Court of Appeals Justices Hector Hofilena and Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores as members. After weeks of mediating between parties to the case, the panel suspended the proceedings on Monday because HLI wanted a private body to conduct the land valuation and because of a farmers' group's decision to back out from the proceedings. Two weeks ago, a faction of farmers' group Asosasyon ng mga Manggagawang Bukid ng Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) has already refused to participate in the mediation proceedings, saying HLI does not really want to give up the land. Last Wednesday, AMBALA filed its memorandum to compel the court to revoke the SDO and order land distribution. - KBK, GMANews.TV