THE Lapanday Foods Corporation (LFC) affirmed its right to manage the land owned by Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Madaum, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
"LFC clarifies that the with the already final and executory Alias Writ of Execution issued by Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 judge Jill Rose S. Jaugan-Lo dated 21 November 2016, LFC shall continue to manage the farm on behalf of Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative 1 (Hearbco-1) pursuant to the court-approved compromise agreement," the company said in a statement furnished to VoxPop Davao Friday, January 27.
It added that the court order directed all parties, including the breakaway group of Mely Yu, to respect, honor, and comply with the Compromise Agreement between Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative 1 (Hearbco-1) and LFC.
Parties who will defy the order of the court shall be subject to the penalty of contempt of court.
The company said the denial of the request by the company with the Court of Appeals (CA) to restrain Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) from implementing its issuance of a questionable cease-and-desist order (CDO) has not diminished the legal effect of this order for LFC to continue to manage portions of Hearbco-1 farms.
"The CA has yet to resolve the main petition where LFC questions the legality of the CDO issued by Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano. Hence, LFC asserted that DAR cannot deprive Hearbco-1 of its ownership and use of its farm and LFC of the management thereof," the statement read.
LFC said DAR has to get a final and executory court order reversing the final and executory decision of RTC Branch 14 Judge Jaugan-Lo upholding the compromise agreement between LFC and Hearbco-1 before DAR can legally take and appropriate a portion of the farm of Hearbco-1.
Mariano said in an open forum with the Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Inc (Marbai) Wednesday that the Eight Division of the CA has denied the LFC's petition for Temporary Restraining Order filed to restrain the Cease and Desist Order.
Marbai is the group of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries whose land was allegedly grabbed by the LFC and other farmers.