pn: Sumilao farmers ask Court to reverse ruling

[Balita News]

A TOTAL of 137 Higaonon farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon, and their
supporters will march today to the Supreme Court to file a petition
seeking a reversal of its decision nullifying the "win-win solution"
adopted by President Ramos in a land case.

Peter Tuminhay, president of Mapalad farmers, said sympathizers from
the church, non governmental organizations, peasants, labor youth
groups as well as tribal leaders will join them in their crusade to
regain ownership of 100 hectares of the 144-hectare Quisumbing estate.

Simultaneously, the Higaonon farmers' counterparts from the Katutubong
Samahan sa Pilipinas, the largest federation of tribal groups from
Manila, will picket the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources to protest the delay in the issuance of their Certificate of
Ancestral Domain Claim (CADCs) to them.

Newly elected Sen. Aquilino Pimentel will file a motion for
reconsideration as lead counsel of the affected farmers in the case.

Pimentel was also expected to seek the elevation of the ruling to the
court en banc.

Soc Banzuela of Agrarian Refrom NOW!, said a Mass will be said outside
the court while the filing is being done.

The farmers went on a hunger strike for 28 days in October last year
when former Executive Secretary Ruben Torres reversed the Department
of Agrarian Reform's decision that disapproved the Quisumbing's
application for conversion of the estate to non-agricultural use.

On Nov. 7, 1997, the President reversed Torres and came out with what
he called a "win-win solution" by awarding 100 hectares of the
disputed land to the farmers.

But the tribunal's Second Division, declared the President's decision
null and void and returned the land to the Quisumbings.

The court's decision, penned by Associate Justice Antonio Martinez,
affirmed the conversion of the estate to industrial and commercial
uses based on a legal technicality with DAR's late filing of their
first motion for reconsideration to the Torres order.

This prompted the farmers to resume their vigil in front of the DAR
building along Elliptical Road since May 25.

In a press statement, Tuminhay appealed to President-apparent Joseph
Estrada to add more strength to the farmers by visiting them in their
picket.

(Philippine Daily Inquirer )