MANILA, Philippines - Farmer beneficiaries of Cojuangco-owned sugar estate Hacienda Luisita trooped to the Supreme Court(SC) Tuesday morning to file their comment to Hacienda Luisita Inc's(HLI) motion for clarification and reconsideration on the high court's November 22 ruling that ordered the total distribution of Luisita's agricultural lands to its farmers and farm workers.

In a 30-page comment, Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita or AMBALA -- a party in the pending case -- asked the high court to affirm its unanimous ruling with finality so that they may finally be awarded land.

The comment states there is "no new matter" or issue that should merit a reconsideration of the Nov. 22 ruling.

"AMBALA submits that the Motion to Clarify and Reconsider Resolution of November 22, 2011 filed by the petitioner-movant should be denied for the issues raised therein have already been thoroughly discussed and resolved by the Honorable Court both in the 5 July 2011 decision and the 22 November 2011 Resolution," the comment read.

The farmers slammed HLI's motion as a mere delaying tactic to buy time for "a miracle"  such as, they say, the ouster of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who staunchly stands firm on the distribution of Hacienda Luisita.

"Clearly, the petitioner-movant is merely buying for time. It is waiting and hoping for some miracle to happen. Hopefully, even with the ongoing intramurals involving the Chief Justice, the Honorable Court [should see] it fit to immediately resolve to deny the motion filed by the petitioner-movant, affirm the 22 November 2011 resolution, and order its immediate execution," the comment read.

They asked the SC magistrates to prove to the public that they are not cowed by the ongoing impeachment trial of the Chief Justice.

They also called on the Chief Justice not to inhibit from the Luisita case amid calls for his inhibition by HLI.

"Huwag siya mag-inhibit, sumama pa rin siya sa deliberations, and stand firm on total land distribution," AMBALA counsel Jobert Pahilga said.

In a public speech at the high tribunal on the first day of his trial, the Chief Justice said the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in the Hacienda Luisita case paved the way, among others, for his impeachment.

In its MR, HLI questioned the high court's "date of taking" on Nov. 21,1989 as the reckoning period for determining just compensation for the company. This was the same date HLI's stock distribution option was approved.

HLI claimed the date of taking should be based on the value of the 6,435-hectare property in January 2006 when the Notice of Coverage on the estate was issued. HLI also sought a clarification on the amount to be paid to the farm workers on the sale of some 500 hectares of Luisita lands for commercial purposes which the SC placed at P1.3 billion. HLI also asked the SC to bring back the stock distribution option.

But the farmers oppose these.

They called on the SC to stand firm on its decision that held "control over agricultural lands must always be in the hands of the farmers."

Putting the valuation of the Luisita lands under 2006  market value would place value per hectare at P1 million -- meaning, HLI will be paid P5 billion compared to the per hectare price of P40,000 under the 1989 market value as ruled by the SC.