Palace will not influence final Luisita ruling — Lacierda

Malacañang on Thursday said it will respect the decision of the Supreme Court on the land dispute involving the Hacienda Luisita, the sprawling sugar plantation in Tarlac province owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III. “I can guarantee you that. We are not standing on the way of the decision if it becomes final and executory and whatever decision it takes," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters at a press briefing. In a decision announced last Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld the 2005 order of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) revoking the stock distribution plan, which was supposed to give farmers shares of stocks in Hacienda Luisita Inc. instead of land in the plantation. However, there was disagreement among the justices regarding the disposition of the Hacienda Luisita estate, with six justices favoring a new referendum and four voting for the distribution of land to the farmers instead of a new referendum. Lacierda said they are still waiting for the recommendation of Department of Agrarian Reform, the agency ordered by the high court to administer the referendum, as well as the Office of the Solicitor General to decide on what course of action to take. DAR Secretary Gil de los Reyes has already met with Solicitor General Jose Cadiz to discuss the decision, its impact and what course of action the government will take, Lacierda said Wednesday. Lacierda refused to comment on what possible action the government will make. “I cannot comment on what course of action this government will take—are we going to abide by it? Are we going to file an appeal? Are we going to file a motion for reconsideration? I’m not aware of any decision yet taken by the OSG. So once it is taken, the OSG Joel Cadiz will inform us what course of action they will take," he said. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News