“Ayon sa DAR, walang kalabisan ang pagbabayad sa Hacienda Luisita sapagka’t sinunod nila ang batas hinggil dito,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to reporters.
He added that the Palace recognizes the power of Congress to initiate an inquiry on the issue.
Coloma issued the statement after ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio questioned DAR’s “overpayment” of more than P167 million in interest for the sugar plantation owned by Aquino’s relatives.
Aquino divested himself of interest in Hacienda Luisita Inc. in 2010.
The Conjuanco clan was paid over P471.5 million after the Supreme Court ordered the distribution of almost 5,000 hectares of land to some 6,000 farmer-beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita Inc., Tinio said, citing information from the DAR and Land Bank officials.
But Anthony Parungao, DAR undersecretary for legal affairs, had said that no overpayment was made.
He added the compensation for Hacienda Luisita should be pegged against the value of the estate in 1989, not 1998. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News
