Palace distances PNoy from Hacienda Luisita issue

As far as Malacañang is concerned, President Benigno Aquino III should no longer be dragged into the issue of the Hacienda Luisita Inc. since he had already divested himself of his one-percent stake in the corporation.   “He has divested from the Hacienda Luisita since last year,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing where he refused to comment on the Supreme Court decision ordering the owners of Hacienda Luisita to distribute the land to its farmers.   Voting 14-0, the high court said the 6,296 original beneficiaries "shall forfeit and relinquish" their rights over the HLI shares of stocks, and in turn, the HLI will have to transfer these shares to the stocks and transfer book.   Aquino is a scion of the Cojuangco family, who owns the 6,453-hectare plantation. No issue between SC, PNoy   Asked if he sees malice on the part of the high court when it issued the decision, Lacierda said: “This is not going to be an issue between the SC and the President.”   He also said the decision will not cause any further rift between the high court and President Aquino. “He (Aquino) already divested from Hacienda Luisita so there is no compromise. He will not be placed in a compromising position,” he said.   The Supreme Court and the Aquino administration clashed recently when Immigration officials, upon orders from Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, blocked the departure of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo despite the temporary restraining order issued by the court on the hold departure order.   Lacierda also said there is also no need for the President to ask his relatives to follow the SC decision.   “This is a decision from the SC.  If it becomes final and executory, I think it will be observed. (It is) not a question of asking them (to abide by the decision),” he said. - Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News