ANGELES CITY- The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the Corona-less Supreme Court should uphold the ruling on Hacienda Luisita final and executory despite the conviction and ouster of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“It is a bigger and bolder issue than the conviction of Corona. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and the 13 other justices must prove to the people their respect for the decision on Hacienda Luisita,” said Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France.
“The justices must now show they are not playing the game of Malacañang for political convenience,” he added.
France expressed fears that Corona would be replaced by “someone friendly to the Aquino administration.”
Earlier, Corona said the impeachment case against him was motivated by his support for the Supreme Court’s decision on Nov. 22 last year, ordering land distribution at the hacienda owned by the President’s family.
“What if Pres. Aquino asks the new chief justice and other justices to overturn their April 29 decision on Hacienda Luisita in favor of Hacienda Luisita Incorporated?” he asked, adding what happened to Corona could now put pressure on members of the high court to favor moves that could pave the way for decisions favoring the President’s family over the Hacienda Luisita issue, including the demand of the Cojuangcos for a P 10-billion compensation for land distribution in the property.
In a statement, Pamalakaya said “the impeachment and conviction of Corona is a product of political collaboration among reactionary political groups was merely meant to sacrifice Corona for their own political ambition in 2013 mid-term elections.”
“On the other hand, Aquino will continue to exploit the conviction of the Chief Justice and still prevailing anti-Arroyo sentiment to advance his diminishing popularity resulting from his administration’s failure to resolve people’s issues like joblessness, low wages, unstoppable hikes in the prices of petroleum products, utilities and basic services,” the statement also said.
