- Petitioner
- Diamond Farms
- Respondent
- Diamond Farm Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
- Citation
- G.R. No. 192999
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- First Division
- Ponente
- Villarama, Jr., J.
- Decided
- July 18, 2012
Summary
Diamond Farms Inc. challenged the occupation of its former land by farm workers after the property was distributed under CARP. The company claimed unlawful occupation and sought damages, arguing it had not received just compensation. The farm workers, organized as Diamond Farm Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, countered that they were legitimate CARP beneficiaries protecting their rights after CLOAs were issued in their favor. The Supreme Court ruled that the workers' possession was lawful as identified CARP beneficiaries, rejecting the company's unlawful occupation claim. The Court affirmed the workers' entitlement to production sharing under Section 32 of CARL, computed at P25.04 million plus interest, based on the approved Production and Profit Sharing Scheme. The decision emphasized that agrarian reform policy requires control of agricultural land to remain with farmers, directing the DAR to ensure proper distribution to qualified beneficiaries while clarifying that appeals over distribution orders cannot restore the former landowner's ownership rights.