“To Risa Hontiveros and Heidi Mendoza, just letting you know that today, the government has been ordered to pay Hacienda Luisita P28.488 billion in just compensation.”
This was the message posted by Krizette Laureta Chu on June 18, 2025, following a landmark ruling from the Court of Appeals.
The decision ordered the Philippine government to compensate Hacienda Luisita for more than 4,500 hectares of land that had been distributed to over 6,000 farmer-beneficiaries under the agrarian reform program.
The long-standing dispute centers on the Cojuangco-owned estate, which was placed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The Court’s ruling affirmed that just compensation was due to the landowners, amounting to P28.488 billion for land already awarded to farmers.
“The world is a stage where each one must play a part. Mine happened to be the painful part of preventing the Supreme Court from falling into the hands of people with dubious objectives… Lady Justice never peeked through her blindfold.”
She argued that the Court of Appeals decision validates Corona’s position and casts new light on the motivations behind his removal from office.
“Tama siya that the land should be distributed to farmers… This also cements his legacy… which really proves his removal/impeachment was not about corruption, but about payback. Pinalabas siyang corrupt. He has been martyred for judicial independence.”
The ruling on Hacienda Luisita, which was unfavorable to the family of then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, was seen by some as a major factor behind Corona’s impeachment.
Supporters believe his removal was politically motivated—an attempt to punish the Chief Justice for opposing powerful interests and asserting judicial independence.
Atty. Darwin Cañete, a government prosecutor and political commentator, also responded to the news, stating:
“The Corona impeachment was when my disdain and contempt of Dilawans became rage. I never thought I’d ever hate living human beings so much in my life.”
Chu ended her post with a call for reflection and justice:
“Time will always reveal the truth, no matter how long it takes. LET JUSTICE BE DONE, THOUGH THE HEAVENS FALL.”
