President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. wants that all "vintage cases" that have remained pending for as long as 20 years in the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) be resolved.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III (Noel B. Pabalate)
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said Marcos has ordered them to ensure that all pending cases that have been unresolved for periods up to 20 years are finally given resolutions. "The President instructed us from the beginning of his term, to address all pending cases, agrarian reform cases. Because the President definitely subscribes to the adage that justice delayed is justice denied," Estrella said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, May 30. According to Estrella, there are around 4,700 pending cases under his office. He said those are "vintage cases" that are mostly about 20-, 10-, 5-, 3-year-old cases. In order to accomplish this marching order from the President, the DAR is hiring additional lawyers. "We are now recruiting lawyers for Attorney IV position with the intent of being able to catch up with the backlog that we have inherited. That's why there is reason for us to be optimistic," Estrella said "'Yan ang marching order ng ating pangulo, 'ayusin na ninyo 'yan at kung maaari wala nang vintage cases' because yun nga justice delayed, is justice denied. 'Yan ang sabi ng ating pangulo (That's the President's marching order, 'fix that now and if possible, no more vintage cases because yun nga justice delayed, is justice denied. That's what the President said)," Estrella added. The DAR chief said the agency will be distributing 450 land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries in the next couple of weeks. He said it will cover around 200 hectares of land.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III (Noel B. Pabalate)
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said Marcos has ordered them to ensure that all pending cases that have been unresolved for periods up to 20 years are finally given resolutions. "The President instructed us from the beginning of his term, to address all pending cases, agrarian reform cases. Because the President definitely subscribes to the adage that justice delayed is justice denied," Estrella said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, May 30. According to Estrella, there are around 4,700 pending cases under his office. He said those are "vintage cases" that are mostly about 20-, 10-, 5-, 3-year-old cases. In order to accomplish this marching order from the President, the DAR is hiring additional lawyers. "We are now recruiting lawyers for Attorney IV position with the intent of being able to catch up with the backlog that we have inherited. That's why there is reason for us to be optimistic," Estrella said "'Yan ang marching order ng ating pangulo, 'ayusin na ninyo 'yan at kung maaari wala nang vintage cases' because yun nga justice delayed, is justice denied. 'Yan ang sabi ng ating pangulo (That's the President's marching order, 'fix that now and if possible, no more vintage cases because yun nga justice delayed, is justice denied. That's what the President said)," Estrella added. The DAR chief said the agency will be distributing 450 land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries in the next couple of weeks. He said it will cover around 200 hectares of land.