OVERPROTECTIVE NOYNOY

“Blood Weighs More than Politics”

There is nothing superficial about the New York Times depiction of the Cojuangcos hogging politics and Hacienda Luisita. The people are not that naïve to not be able to determine just how Malacañang was used by the Cojuangcos to serve their best interest. The clan’s indifference over the distribution of their claimed Hacienda Luisita among its farm workers is as discernible as the insensitivity of the Liberal Party on letting us swallow another Cojuangco minion – Sen. Noynoy Aquino. The part where Noynoy managed to go about the affairs of his cousin –Fernando Cojuangco whom the senator claimed was aggravated by political white wash and misguided journalism is enough proof for the public to rethink LP’s offered “reform”.

The true story beneath the lavish talks of presidentiable Noynoy Aquino on Cojuangco family extending the distribution of land to make sure that the farmers get clean-slate of land titles free from debts is that the Cojuangcos have obviously exploited the land to its inutile state. Don Jose Cojuangco who bought the 6,400 hectare azucarera using loaned public fund from the Central Bank of the Philippines (CBP) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) back in 1958 has made quite a hole on the land reform and grants system when he lied about the existence of the 100,000 azucarera residents inside the Luisita estate that should have rightfully owned the land during the 1980s. The only obvious failure of the 1986 Edsa People Power would be the continued land struggle in Hacienda Luisita. Former Pres. Cory Aquino’s administration ended dictatorship but it helped breed deafening abuses against toiling farm workers on the Cojuangcos very backyard.

Noynoy promising Hacienda Luisita in five years right about the time before he steps down the presidency once he get elected is another iconic rundown of Cojuangcos intentional deceit and misuse of authority over the Luisita farmers’ affairs. In fact, others see this as an understatement in which Noynoy is trying to bait the azucarera over votes. He is only making a fool of the Luisita farmers; again; making these farmers’ believe that their only hope of getting their piece of land is by giving Noynoy Malacañang. Just like the rotten power thug between different social classes in the country that involves the well-off and the deprived who are under their paychecks, the Cojuangcos through Noynoy will soon be able to turn the tables once and again on the rightful allocation of Luisita. That is, by taking a look back at how the Cojuangcos managed to stall the division of the azucarera through Cory’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in 1988.

Blood runs thicker than politics, and for Noynoy, blood is foremost valuable than honest and impartisan governance. Philippine politics is so prone to familial dynasty-ism that most of the time families pay interests on running for various public offices for the benefit of either business or control. This is the exact same thing that fuels Noynoy’s presidency. It had always been for the advantage of the Cojuangcos who nearly faced the people’s tribunal after the 2004 Luisita massacre and the persistent prostitution of farm workers’ rights. Furthermore, it is disgusting to see Noynoy being overprotective of his affluent cousins as he himself had not done much in the years he served in the legislature.

NOYNOY: DENY, DENY UNTIL YOU DIE

There is no way around the problem but to deny ever saying such revealing statement. This was the scene that most likely transpired between Liberal Party standard bearer Noynoy Aquino and his cousin, Fernando Cojuangco, chief operating officer of the Hacienda Luisita, in their haste to neutralize the effects of the latter’s claim that their family has no plans of ever giving up their rights to the 10,000 acre land.

In Noynoy’s mind, Fernando’s slipup would most assuredly wreck his current standing in the presidential race and would only prove his duplicity on matters pertaining to agrarian reform - thus the immediate need to employ a stop-gap measure such as the much used “taken out of context” excuse our politicians often resort to and have clearly mastered.

However, the issue at hand is no longer just about the Hacienda Luisita wrongfully remaining in the hands of the landed Cojuangcos - despite past public posturing from Noynoy to do otherwise - but the fact that the unico hijo of Ninoy and Cory is ready to put the blame on another person which is in this case, his cousin. Despite his assurance that Fernando is of sound upbringing like himself, he still insinuated that his cousin was not careful enough to guard his words and has caused much damage to Noynoy’s public image.

He is not yet the president but he is already giving us a glimpse of him lording over us – his future fiefdom – with much aristocracy that is only expected and natural from a haciendero like him. It is also obvious that Noynoy can definitely lie through his teeth. We also got a peek of what was to come under Noynoy’s leadership and that is, the law is applicable to everyone, everyone but him and his family; a fact that was already practiced during his mother’s term – proven by the undistributed hacienda – and that he has long forgotten or omitted from his campaign speeches and public interviews.

To obtain the 10,000 strong votes of the very farmers whom their family have fooled into accepting the transformation of Hacienda Luisita into a corporation and contenting themselves as stock holders, Noynoy and his political backers intentionally gave lose hope and announced that the original beneficiaries will be awarded lands free and clear within five years, but only after all the debts of the HLI was settled. However, thanks to Fernando Cojuangco, the farmers now know better.

These are glorious words from a man whose only purpose is to clearly hoodwink the throng of farmers into shading his name in the upcoming elections. Is he now a peddler of lies?

Related story: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/183662/after-luisita-massacre-more-killings-linked-to-protest

MISSING THE POINT ON LUISITA CONTROVERSY?

It is not strange for another Cojuangco to stand-up for the revered “familial name” against a snowball of criticism about the decades-long Hacienda Luisita controversy. Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate – Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is simply living up to the standards of his clan, which normally includes “turf protection” and “asset-clinging” with utter abuse of authority. They remain defensive on the accounts of Luisita division as they intend to continue their control over the 4,000 hectare sugar farm land. The way Aquino defended his cousin, Fernando Cojuangco, the chief operating officer of the holding company that owns the Luisita plantation, is reason enough for voters to think twice on his offered “reformed administration”.

Noynoy is on complete defensive mode when it comes to his clan’s entanglements with azucarera. And the way he belied and accused the New York Times of misquoting his cousin on a remark that the Cojuangcos have no intention of giving-up Luisita is one proof of his undoubtedly biased judgment over Luisita. After being elected in Congress and actually gaining the authority to help dismiss Luisita farmers’ 46-year old lamentations and grief, Noynoy surely ignored good governance and stayed quiet with tail bended down on the affairs between the Tarlac farmers and his clan. The 2004 Luisita massacre is enough proof of Noynoy’s political prejudice.

The controversial Luisita azucarera operated by the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) and the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) was legally bounded to be distributed to its farm workers as part of the implementation of the former Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) ruling. Records show from the Manila RTC that the late Don Jose Cojuangco purchased Luisita on March 31, 1958 with the help of loaned government funds from the Central Bank of the Philippines (CBP) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Part of the said negotiation was Don Jose’s agreement to distribute the land to his farmers pursuant to the Marcos government’s social justice program. However, Don Jose held back on his end of the bargain on claims that there were no tenants inside the azucarera. Ten years later, CBP released an inquiry that lambasted Don Jose’s earlier claims that also stunned the public. On said report, there were about 100,000 residents in the 10 barrios making-up the entire hacienda; and that this overwhelming population is under Tadeco’s payroll.

In 1980, the government almost succeeded in pushing Tadeco management to honor its 1958 agreement with CBP and GSIS. The Ministry of Agrarian Reform (now DAR) was even tasked to overlook the manner of Hacienda Luisita’s division or distribution to the azucarera farmers. But this was short-lived as Pres. Cory Aquino took office and implemented the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). CARP actually stalled the land-distribution by turning its farm workers into stockholders or co-owners of the azucarera turned corporation – Hacienda Luisita Inc. Instead of land, Cojuangco gave them shared capita, which now faces bankruptcy as stressed by Noynoy.

The Cojuangcos practically soiled the original Hacienda Luisita agreement and exploited the land till it became entirely useless. All their farmers were duped with no peso or land to their name despite their numerous land reform agreements. That is point fact. Noynoy being overprotective of the Cojuangcos “good name” makes him no less than part of the pack of Cojuangco wolves out to protect their estates like true blue capitalist.

BUTAS NA PANGAKO NI NOYNOY

Kahit ano pang pagtatanggi ang gawin ni presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino patungkol sa bagong kapalpakan sa usaping reporma sa lupa partikular na sa Hacienda Luisita ay malinaw na wala talagang balak ipamahagi ng pamilya Cojuangco-Aquino ang libo-libong ektarya ng naturang hasyenda sa 10,000 magsasakang pina-asa nito. Salamat na lamang sa pinsan mismo ni Noynoy na si Fernando Cojuangco, chief operating officer ng korporasyon at nagising ang mga magsasaka sa isang mapait na reyalidad na sila pala ay nilinlang lamang ng unico hijo ni dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino. Isa rin ba ito sa mga aral ng magulang ni Noynoy na madalas niyang sambitin sa tuwing haharap sa kamera?

Nakakalungkot na hindi naging tapat si Noynoy sa mga magsasakang nagpa-unlad ng kanilang lupain sa matagal na panahon. Kung tutuusin ay dapat silang tumanaw ng malaking utang na loob sa mga abang magsasaka dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanila ay hindi mananatiling maunlad ang pamumuhay ng mga Cojuangco-Aquino.
Kung dati-rati ay marami ang natuwa sa ginawang pagdeklara ni Noynoy na balak na nitong ipamahagi ang lupain sa mga benepisyaryong magsasaka sa kasagsagan ng kampaniya, ngayon ay marami ang naiinis dahil malinaw na binola lamang ng senador ang mga tao para sa kanyang pangangampanya. Ito ay malinaw na isang political strategy lamang upang lumabas na mabango ang pangalan ni Noynoy at upang tuluyang tumigil ang multo ng Hacienda Luisita na patuloy na ibinabato sa kaniya.

Maski na ba maglabas ng pahayag ang pinsan ni Noynoy na si Fernando na siya ay biktima ng “taken out of context” ay hindi na nila mababawi ang matagal nang sira at suportado ng mga “factual” na impormasyon. Kung iisipin, ano ang mahihita ng New York Times partikular na ng sumulat ng artikulo na si Norimitsu Onishi, na siya rin namang nagpatunay na ang binitiwang pahayag ay totoo dahil ito ay naka-record sa paglabas ng maling istorya? Kung baga, galing mismo sa bibig ni Fernando ang pagkontra sa sinabi ni Noynoy na planong pagpapamahagi ng Hacienda Luisita.

Kung ngayon pa lamang na nakikita na natin ang kabaluktutan ng pananaw ni Noynoy patungkol sa ikakabuti ng mas nakakarami ay ano ang mahihita at aasahan ng milyon-milyong Pilipino na kaniyang pinapasakay sa slogan niyang “hindi ako magnanakaw”?

DRUG MONEY TRAIL ON LACSON’S ESCAPE

Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s Political Consultant - Lito Banayo is said to be managing the solon’s affair in cleaning his name on the Dacer-Corbito case. And Banayo does this with huge help coming from renowned drug lords’ deep pockets. Sources reveal that around 2 billion pesos worth of drug money has already been fueling Banayo’s campaign for Lacson’s sake. About 500 million of this money was used to court various RTC judges to actually quash the case. Another 16 million was initially used in an attempt to stall the issuance of a warrant of arrest. Though the plan to sabotage Lacson’s WOA ran futile, the millions paved the way for him to leave the country a month before the warrant was served last February 05. Obviously, Lacson was tipped-off about his looming arrest and he apparently bagged the opportunity to plot his escape.

Although at a “runaway state”, Lacson is still able to micro-manage his defense in the Dacer-Corbito case with the assistance of Banayo and of course Chinese tycoons running a drug trade under the senator’s protection. To name a few of these “financiers” is Kim Wong who owns a chain of restaurants and casinos in the country. In 2008, headlines included Lacson’s ill-gotten wealth amounting to $180 million under a hoax account in Hong Kong. The said money was part of Lacson’s pay-up after working with Wong’s drug dens. The charges, however, did not materialize as more controversial issues in mid of 2009 bumped it off the political arena. Coincidentally, Wong just happens to be an “indispensible” persona behind military and PNP officials, including Ret. PNP Chief Avelino Razon who is seeking a mayorial post this coming election.

The costly escapades of Lacson and his supposed well-financed “trick or two” to actually evade arrest by the Interpol shows how well-financed the senator is outside the country. Thus, it is likely true that the former claims of Dacer-Corbito state witnesses- Glenn Dumlao and Cesar Mancao of Lacson “manhandling” their testimonies on the murder case are accurate. The late night visits of Lacson to Dumlao and Mancao in the US with his promise of financing their families in the Philippines are nonetheless being funded by the likes of Wong.

Other than stage-managing his case, Lacson is also making use of the nearing elections in his defense. As sources further revealed, Wong is also doling out part of the said 2 billion drug fund on Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s presidential race. The idea is to actually lure Aquino to incur a huge political debt to Wong. By the time Aquino bags the presidency, Wong and other legitimate tycoons who invested on LP are entitled to ask for favors. Among these anonymous benefactors is of course Lacson. We could only guess that he would be pressuring Aquino to grant him his murder case during his administration. At a heartbeat, Lacson and Wong would ask no more than assistance to scrap the Dacer-Corbito case. This way, Lacson could reclaim his political stature and protect the drug market which Wong domineers.

The “mismanagement” inside LP and the rumored “pushover” leadership of Aquino, would undoubtedly make him an easy prey for Lacson and Wong.

IS LP TIED ON LACSON’S DRUG MONEY STRING?

The loose leadership of Sen. Noynoy Aquino inside Liberal Party as reflected on his ill-managed campaigns that have been the cost of his flat lining public support also led to the supposed entry of formerly accused drug lord- Kim Wong in his political wing. Kim Wong, who had been formerly accused as Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s protected “drug trader”, is also a well-known “financing” alter ego of Lacson and Mayorial candidate former PNP Chief Avelino Razon. The tycoon who owned chains of casinos in the country is rumored to be Lacson’s “eyes and ears” within LP’s doors. Using around 2 billion pesos worth of drug money, Wong was able to sneak into LP’s political affairs.

Apparently, Wong’s entry inside Aquino’s presidential parade is masterminded nonetheless by Sen. Lacson. As expected, Lacson is planning on remotely controlling the affairs of Aquino for his advantage to include the probable dumping of his case by the time Aquino ascends to Malacañang. Furthermore, other than Wong, other Chinese tycoons are also playing a role for Lacson’s behalf, one of which is a renowned real estate investor. Intentionally, these personalities would make-up the pressuring bloc that would push Aquino off the edge in favor of “dry-cleaning” Lacson’s no-guilty defense on the Dacer-Corbito case.

Unfortunately, this drug money is trailing LP’s dealings. The 2 billion is merely the tip of the iceberg of illegal money laundering and “political deception” that would no sooner absolve Lacson of his high crimes and rectify his former clout in protecting drug lords such as Wong. Other than courting LP with billions of pesos, Lacson’s camp is also using his political consultant, Lito Banayo, to seal his ties with LP. Banayo, who had been a close-friend of the Aquinos with his former participation in the emancipation of the course against the Marcos dictatorship, is also running a good show inside Aquino’s camp. Acting like a good confidante, Banayo is “sweet whispering” LP about the entry of this huge sum of money under the names of Wong and others.

LP admitted negligence on overseeing their campaigns and even their candidates’ platform presentations. At first they blamed it on “flooding” donations that reached an overbearing point that involved LP feeling unappreciative of the support being extended to Aquino. Ironically, LP confesses their faults with a bang of showing off but there should be nothing to be proud about illegal drugs feeding Aquino’s presidential ambitions. Not unless they thought they could keep it a secret from the public.

Blind leadership is what’s causing LP’s collapse. Some say, this is something the Party has brought upon itself after choosing a “wimp” over Sen. Mar Roxas. Conflict-ridden LP keeps making absurd excuses to the next. But what does this “divisiveness” and fluidity of authority and control in LP suggest? If Aquino could not sniff out one crime committed within his backyard, how would you expect him to run a government safeguarding an archipelago with 90 million inhabitants?

Additional Years of Education, Answer to Poverty?

As we draw closer to the May 2010 National and Local Elections, more and more candidates are going to the extremes for the sake of getting noticed. However, it should be underscored that the nearing elections do not give political candidates currently seated in a government position the consent to go berserk and submit the masses to half-baked ideas and proposals for the sake of having a “say” in the political arena or for plain campaign purposes.

LP’s standard bearer, Senator Noynoy Aquino pointed out how the Philippines’ 10-year education curriculum is proven incompetent as compared to the 12-year education curriculum of other countries. Noynoy says: “The Philippines has the shortest education cycle preparatory to university. Ours is 10 years; the rest of the world is 12. In short, we have a curriculum that, on paper, covers the same subject matter as the rest of the world but which we cram into 10, instead of 12, years. This means that our teachers take all kinds of short cuts to try to cover the material or just simply do not attempt to cover the entire syllabus in a given year for lack of material time. This shortchanges our children’s education.”

This, according to the presidentiable, is one of the reasons why many Filipino graduates are ineffectual and could not compete with graduates of international universities/colleges. Noynoy envisions that his proposal will help alleviate poverty in our country. But will the additional two years of intermediate schooling be enough to address these problems? To start off, the Senator’s idea will only increase the number of out-of-school youth because additional years, of course, means additional expenses for the struggling masses; thus making this proposal anti-poor. Our country is filled with public schools that are lacking teachers, proper facilities and even the basic needs such as books and classroom materials.

How can the government fund the teachers, schoolrooms, and textbooks for the added years, when it does not even have enough money for the grade levels existing today?

Our country is in the midst of grave poverty but are we too desperate to consider taking a very simplistic approach in solving a highly convoluted problem existing in our country for so long? If the times call for an immediate action on this matter, why not improve and further develop the standard of Philippine education without having to risk losing the number of enrollees for the next school year? The proposal is sound but did he even confer the possible disadvantages? If Noynoy really cares to improve our country’s education system, then he should be presenting something beyond sound ideas. More importantly, his decisions should be of great consideration to the masses which comprise the majority of our population.

Let us face the truth that in a country where there is a visible sign of struggle almost everywhere we look, there is no place for a law that will only melt the littlest hope the poor masses are hoping for—a brighter and better future for their children. Noynoy should know better.