Court Orders DAR, Land Bank to Pay P28.49 Billion to Hacienda Luisita

Picture Credits: ca.judiciary.gov.ph

The Court of Appeals (CA) has directed the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Land Bank of the Philippines to pay P28.49 billion to Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) as compensation for agricultural lands in Tarlac acquired under the government’s agrarian reform program.

The CA’s Special 12th Division overturned a 2023 ruling by the Tarlac City Regional Trial Court (RTC), which upheld Land Bank’s valuation of the 4,500-hectare property at only P304 million. In a 35-page decision, the appellate court found that DAR and Land Bank incorrectly relied on industry data to compute the land’s value, a method permitted only when the landowner’s data is unavailable.

The court stated, “Respondents (DAR and Land Bank) appear remiss in their duty and erroneously resorted to industry data for valuation. We are not persuaded to affirm the RTC’s decision that Land Bank’s assessment was correct.”

Background of the Case

- In 2013, DAR issued notices to acquire portions of Hacienda Luisita under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

- HLI contested Land Bank’s valuation, demanding higher compensation and interest, but the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) and later the Tarlac RTC rejected their claims in 2023.

- The CA ruled that the lower court failed to ensure “just compensation”, which must be “real, substantial, full, ample, and fair.”

The decision was penned by Associate Justice Raymon Reynold Lauigan, with Justices Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob and Ferdinand Baylon concurring.

Based on a report by Clarist Mae Zablan, News5

Source: News5

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