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18. Moreover, Petitioners Settlers all either reside or derive
income from the project site in Bulacan which is to be cleared in the
implementation of the Northrail Contract involved in this case. They have
all peacefully existed on the land on which they have lived and worked
for more than twenty years now and have a legal right to stay in said
land and continue their livelihood until they are legally and validly
relocated. They therefore stand to suffer direct material injury in terms of
damaged property and lost income, and irreparable injury in the form of
illegal displacement due to the implementation of the questioned
contract. The implementation of the Northrail Contract, a void contract,
will result in the demolition of their homes and their unjust dislocation
and deprivation of livelihood.
19. Petitioners requested certified true copies of the Northrail
Contract and the Loan Agreement from both Northrail and the Export-
Import Bank of China, but their reasonable request for the production of
certified true copies were denied by said companies. Petitioners therefore
attach copies of the Northrail Contract and the Loan Agreement hereto as
Annexes “B” and “C.” Petitioners also attach proof of their efforts at
acquiring said certified true copies hereto as Annex “D.” As regards the
fact that the total project cost is Five Hundred and Three Million US
Dollars (US$503,000,000.00), this is contained in a letter dated January
6, 2004 by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri to Jose L.
Cortes, President of Northrail, which letter is attached hereto as Annex
“E.”
20. On 29 September 2005, the Senate continued its
investigation into the Northrail Agreements and invited resource persons
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