SC ruling on Luisita central ‘step to justice’ – solon

MANILA, Philippines – An activist lawmaker said the Supreme Court (SC) decision on a labor dispute at the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT), which is owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III, was a “positive step for justice to (the) farm workers” of the sprawling Hacienda Luisita, also owned by the chief executive’s family.

“This victory by the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU) is a result of the militant and organized actions by the farmers and farm workers of Hacienda Luisita,” Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano said in a statement.

The high court said CAT had acted “in bad faith” for slashing the 13th month of its workers and ordering the sugar mill to restore the original formula for computing the bonus.

The high court noted that CAT slashed the bonus after a bloody strike in 2004 in which seven workers were killed, saying “this act of petitioner in changing the formula at this time cannot be sanctioned as it indicates a badge of bad faith.”

“The Luisita management’s vengeful and willful changing of the formula of the workers’ bonuses after the violent dispersal of the workers and peasant strike clearly demonstrates the anti-worker character of the Cojuangco-Aquinos,” Mariano said.

Mariano hoped the SC would also eventually junk a stock distribution scheme that is preventing the distribution of Luisita to agrarian reform beneficiaries.

The high court is expected to decide on a long-standing petition filed by Hacienda Luisita management against an order of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to distribute the 5,000-hectare sugar plantation to its workers.

The SC has issued a temporary restraining order against the DAR order that is still in force.

Oral arguments on the issue are scheduled for August 18.

The DAR has ruled that the stock distribution option has not improved but instead worsened the living conditions of the hacienda’s 8,000 workers, contrary to the intent of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Mariano, who is also chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said the high court should now give “complete justice” to the farm workers by “putting the final nail in the coffin” of the strock distribution option.

“The strongest argument of farmers against the SDO is that it was used by the Cojuangco-Aquinos to evade land distribution,” he said.