Hacienda seeks SC approval of farmers’ SDO accord By Benjamin B. Pulta and Aytch S. de la Cruz 08/12/2010

Noy insists on no involvement in deal Hacienda seeks SC approval of farmers’ SDO accord By Benjamin B. Pulta and Aytch S. de la Cruz 08/12/2010 Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) management appears to be striking while another Aquino presidential iron is hot. It was during then President Cory Aquino’s time that the hacienda came up with the stock distribution option (SDO) in a Cojuangco-Aquino hacienda bid to evade placing Hacienda Luisita under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. Another Cojuangco-Aquino sits in Malacañang today, and the same hacienda owners want the SDO retained through an agreement that has been branded by critics and activists as “deceptive,” “illegal” and a “sham.” Lawyers of the Cojuangco-owned HLI, formally asked the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday to approve the compromise agreement it had signed with the supposed representatives of the 5,000 farmworkers who are supposed to benefit from the government’s land reform program. HLI is finalizing the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and is seeking the approval of the compromise agreement sought by HLI and farmers belonging to Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid ng Hacienda Luisita, (Ambala) United Luisita Workers Union (Ulwu) and Supervisory Group of Hacienda Luisita, Inc. Some of the signatories reportedly said that money, to the tune of P150 million and pledges of work for farmers who sign up were offered by the Cojuangcos. The approval of the compromise agreement may make moot HLI’s petition seeking the nullification of a resolution issued by the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) recalling the stock distribution option (SDO) adopted by the Cojuangcos and the farmworkers 16 years ago.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100812hed1.html

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