DAR lawyers can act as counsels in just compensation litigations

By Rio N. Araja and Vince Lopez

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will start deputizing its lawyers as counsels in litigations involving just compensation for agricultural lands placed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Meanwhile, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III reported a ‘historic accomplishment’ following the grant of land ownership to beneficiaries in Hacienda Tinang in Conception, Tarlac.

Undersecretary for Legal Affair Office

Napoleon Galit directed all designated DAR lawyers to observe proper protocol by entering an appearance in their respective areas of assignment when representing the DAR as counsel on matters involving just compensation for lands placed under the government’s agrarian reform program.

Galit issued the order after receiving a favorable response from Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra about his request “to exercise authority and full and direct control” over all lawyers of the DAR in the handling of just compensation cases before regional trial courts sitting as Special Agrarian Courts.

“The subject representation by the DAR legal personnel is within the prerogative of the Honorable Secretary of the Department,” he cited.

Guevarra pointed out that the DAR lawyers’ functions as requested by Galit “request does not fall within the coverage of an Office of the Solicitor General deputation.”

“The appointment of the good undersecretary as head of the legal sector of the DAR is exclusively within the powers of the Department Secretary, and is, therefore, external to the OSG’s mandate,” he said.

“The appointment of the good undersecretary as head of the legal sector of the DAR is exclusively within the powers of the Department Secretary, and is, therefore, external to the OSG’s mandate,” Guevarra explained.

“I’d like to inform everybody, most especially the public, of historic accomplishments. The President instructed us from the beginning of his term to address all pending agrarian reform cases because the President definitely subscribes to the adage that justice delayed is justice de-