No less than the 1987 Constitution calls for land distribution as part of land reform and no one can violate that, the head of the Archdiocese of Manila has said.
This was the reminder to President Benigno Aquino III from Manila's Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and some officials of Christian churches as the Supreme Court prepared to hear arguments on a stock distribution option (SDO) deal row at Hacienda Luisita, Inc. (HLI).
“Land distribution is stated in the Constitution and in what we called the CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program). Therefore, we cannot violate that," Rosales said in an article posted Tuesday night on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site.
Rosales added that the government should implement CARP to break the land monopoly currently enjoyed by big landlords.
“The law is very clear that farmers have the right to own the land they till. That’s all I have to say because I don’t know anything about its implementation," Rosales said.
On the other hand, the National Council of Churches of the Philippines stressed the need for social justice.
Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo quoted NCCP secretary general Fr. Rex Reyes Jr. as saying Aquino cannot afford to maintain a hands-off stance on the matter.
Reyes said Aquino should act in favor of the farmers.
The Supreme Court was set to hear on Wednesday arguments on the controversial SDO at HLI. [See: Luisita case in SC to focus on 1989 farmers' stock option]
March to SC
HLI farmers who held a peaceful vigil in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) office in Quezon City Tuesday night, woke up early Wednesday to prepare to march to the SC headquarters in Manila.
Radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported the farmers woke up past 5 a.m. and prepared to march to the high court premises in Manila.
The farmers are opposing the 1989 SDO and a compromise agreement signed last August 6 between some farmers and the HLI management.
Also, the farmers were scheduled to attend a mass at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) along Taft Avenue in Manila Wednesday morning. Wednesday's mass aimed to give the farmers strength in the Supreme Court hearing. — LBG
