The Philippine Online Chronicles

“The Cojuangcos do not deserve just compensation,” said Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) secretary general Randall Echanis on Sunday, in light of President Benigno Aquino III’s statement that under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) landowners are entitled to “just compensation.”

Echanis added, “They have used government money to acquire the hacienda in the late 1950’s and have made a fortune for more than half a century now. And now, they want the government to pay for the land. Cojuangcos still owe billions of pesos to the government and to farm workers aside from blood debts,” referring to the infamous Hacienda Luisita massacre on Nov. 16, 2004 that left seven farmers dead.

Anakpawis Rep. and KMP chairman Rafael Mariano also pointed out, "The President speaks as if his family was shortchanged or disadvantaged by the Supreme Court decision ordering total land distribution for Luisita farmers. In case he has forgotten, the Cojuangco-Aquinos repeatedly evaded actual land distribution for the past five decades through anti-farmer, state-sponsored agrarian reform programs.”

KMP said the CARP had always given the landowners the upper hand. They explained that by paying overpriced compensation to landowners, the farmer-beneficiaries are forced to pay amortization which they could barely afford.

Mariano further reminded the public of Aquino’s promise during the 2010 elections. The solon said Aquino promised he will ensure the distribution of Hacienda Luisita even if he loses.

“He did not speak about ‘just compensation’ or any precondition for distribution,” Mariano said.

“The President’s position on land reform and Hacienda Luisita will always be biased toward his family. He is not rightful of the title ‘President of the Republic of the Philippines because his loyalty and service remain with his landlord family, Cojuangco-Aquinos,” Mariano alleged.

No free distribution – DAR

However, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes said, "Unfortunately, the constitution and the current [CARP] law do not support that particular position [free land]. We must pay the landowners just compensation and the farmer-beneficiary must pay the government.”

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace has no hand in the valuation of the land and the amount to be paid to the Cojuangco family. She also said that the landowners “should not be stripped of their landholding without compensation.”

De los Reyes said the court will determine the value of Hacienda Luisita based on its capitalized net income, market value and sales of similarly situated lands.

"The valuation is dependent on the nature of the land, that is why you cannot put a value on the entire 4,000 (hectares) with one value because you will have to look at the productivity," he said.

De los Reyes also lamented the difficulty of distributing Hacienda Luisita.

"It's not everyday that you find haciendas like this. This is going to be very challenging. This has never been done before. We have never had 4,000 [plus] hectares being distributed to 6,296 (beneficiaries). This is not an ordinary situation, that is why the ordinary rules of acquisition may not apply here," he said.

Collective ownership

But Hacienda Luisita farmers said the land does not need to be parceled out.

United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) acting chair Lito Bais said, “We have been proposing [collectively owning Luisita] for so long to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). We want one single title for the land but with all the names of the original beneficiaries listed in the title.”

De los Reyes clarified that they are not dictating how the land will be turned over.

“This should not be a debate. They will be given options. [Whether] it is collective or individual titling will be the choice of the owner of the land, the farmer-beneficiary,” he said.

Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) chair Felix Nacpil Jr. said, “Ambala will lead farm workers in collective farming. We will use the P1.33 billion [which the high court ordered the HLI to pay the farm workers] as capital for equipment, seeds, among others.”