MANILA (AFP) - The Philippines' highest court ordered on Thursday that a sprawling sugar estate controlled by President Benigno Aquino's family be given to more than 6,000 farmers who had worked there for years.
The ruling was hailed as a victory for peasants in the impoverished Philippines who have long struggled to break the stranglehold of powerful political clans on the country's rich agricultural lands.
'This has been a 50-year struggle already and this is a victory not only for these farmers, but for the many who are similarly situated,' said Romeo Capulong, a lawyer for the farmers.
'This gives hope to thousands of farmers who are continually being oppressed, that they too can dream to one day own the land they till.' However Mr Capulong said he expected Mr Aquino's relatives would file an appeal, and that no distribution of land on the estate known as Hacienda Luisita would happen until the case was deemed 'final and executory'.
