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.

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.

LP BENT-DOWN ON SWS?“ Politicking Reckons TRAPOs”

“Learning lessons the hard way” best fits the major blunder Sen. Noynoy Aquino committed when he wrote his apologies to the Social Weather Station (SWS) higher ups after he made bold statements about survey predictions easily bought along corners of Quiapo. But the letter came weeks late and the damage was already been done. Besides, who in their right mind would believe that Sen. Noynoy was referring to other survey outfits when he is obviously pissed about the 11% mark-down on opponent Sen. Manuel Villar’s sponsored SWS presidential tally? LP was frantic about their dropping lead against Villar that caught Noynoy squeaking “foul play” and ditching SWS altogether. These are facts but LP, especially Aquino is trying to warp it point blank.

LP kneeling on its knees to claim back SWS’ favor is a glimpse of how Aquino’s supposed administration would be like; a weakling that lip-serves. Quite frankly, some have grown to think that Noynoy finally made a man out of himself as he lambasted SWS as a “cheap” source of immaterial “numbers”. The first time Noynoy made a bold statement by himself that he yet again “regrets” with his “sorry correspondence”. Well, can we really blame him? He was clearly making a joke of himself when he brushed aside SWS as if it were an empty can on his trail. The SWS which catered all of the surveys that he topped for months surely deserved better than being whipped and criticized.

Numbers do get a good hold of the public’s attention and this sticks far from being a superficial propaganda. LP knows this quite well but was unable to brief their presidential bet. Aquino, ignorantly declared in public that surveys could easily be manipulated with the right amount of money; saving the public from proving whether LP’s lead is rather a work of yet another wealthy manipulator. Truly, a good fish is best caught by its mouth wide open. Unfortunately, this seemingly insensitive solon is boldly seeking the presidency using only his family name.

Sadly, this apologetic letter have already worn-out his welcome not on the SWS per se but the public who have already branded the survey outfit as biased and nothing less than a business enterprise making profit out of the forthcoming elections. Aquino has successfully spoiled his month-long lead and the masses would not be too naïve to give SWS a chance to redeem itself, all thanks to the doing of their major client –LP.

Others say, if only LP and SWS have played it smart and actually briefed Noynoy of the loose ties inside the deals the entire misunderstanding would have been avoided. Hopefully, their oversight was a huge help to the public who actually have faith on the standards of the SWS.

IS DRUG MONEY USED FOR LACSON’S LIBERTY?

What does it take to clear a former PAOC-TF, PNP Chief and an elected senator’s name from riddling charges of multiple murders? Will 2 billion pesos make much of a difference, like stalling the Dacer-Corbito murder case and re-entering mainstream politics?

As Sen. Panfilo Lacson went into his self-exile last January 05 foreseeing the issue of his warrant of arrest for the charges of murder this February 05, his political consultant-Lito Banayo have been overseeing series of supposed “under the table” negotiations to quash the case and win Liberal Party’s presidentiable-Noynoy Aquino to act as Lacson’s political aegis. The deal is, half of the initial 2 billion pesos believed to be generated among drug lords under Lacson’s protection will be used to court justices to stage-manage the proceedings while the rest would be funneled down to Aquino’s campaign wagon in terms of “donations” from renowned Chinese tycoons.

About 2 weeks after Lacson’s “asylum” in Hongkong, Banayo was seen meeting up with him in Hong Kong discussing the splitting up of the 2 billion pesos and the entry of Lacson inside Liberal Party using Chinese tycoons as “front men”. Shortly after said meeting, formerly tagged Chinese drug lord identified as certain Kim Wong met with Lacson in Macau. Like Lacson’s former talks with Banayo, Wong was supposed to keep an eye on the so-called donations of the Chinese community on Aquino’s campaigns.

The idea is to have Aquino biting Lacson’s billion-worth bait that runs in form of “simple” donations coming from the business sector. The “face” of these generous donors would in fact include Kim Wong. Trusting the donations coming from Wong would be made easier for Aquino with the help of Banayo and renowned Lacson-loyalist Dinky Soliman, who also works for the movement - InciteGov. Taking a look back, Soliman was reported supporting a group of “mutineers” that would push for a revolutionary government ousting GMA altogether. This band of mutineers was soon discovered funded and “pre-managed” by Lacson himself. With Banayo and Soliman both working inside Liberal Party, Lacson would be assured of a smoother “shadow leadership” in Aquino’s camp.

LP would not likely know they are being played at until they have already fallen deep into Lacson’s political scheme. So as LP bags Malacañang, it would be more likely for Lacson to clean up his mess with the PR-man 2000 murder. Other than that, the country would be run “unfortunately” by a president who won with a huge help of elicited money coming from the deep pockets of sneaky drug lords who roamed free all-thanks to Sen. Lacson.

LP DITCHES SURVEYS

Conspiracy on surveys breaks out as SWS “favorite” presidentiable tagged them as “easily bought” and more or less “unreliable”. The word-war between the Nacionalista and Liberal Party began when Sen. Manuel Villar obtained 33% of public favor that narrowed down Aquino’s lead to a mere 11% at a paid survey from December 5-10 of last year. Furthermore, said ratio proposing the first ever decline of people’s support on LP’s bet- Sen. Noynoy Aquino is enough to stir egos out in the open. These “reformers” led by Aquino who continue to brag about their supposed adherence to clean politics and good “reputation” has lost their resolve to keep-off “word war” like ordinary Traditional Politicians or TRAPOs. As their ratings continue to slide back and forth, the self-proclaimed “saint”-Sen. Aquino is beginning to look terribly anxious and overly sensitive.

Even more disturbing in this whole “I am on top debate” is that LP enjoyed the ratings for months on end. The numbers actually gave LP something to brag about; actually flaunting it as proof that the public wants reform under his would-be victory of Malacañang. It was not as highly unreliable or else irrelevant at that point as far as LP is concerned. The large leap on public favor was seemingly an “open secret” and truth that opposing camps of NP, LAKAS-CMD and others are to envy. Back then, Sen. Aquino and the surveys simply “complemented” each other. But are those jumps on ratings “factual” quoting Sen. Aquino’s statements in the Phil Daily Inquiry; “Ah may survey na matino, may survey na nabibili sa Quiapo”. What makes the former survey’s “matino” or should we say consistent? Was it because Villar’s supporters’ openly admitted funding said survey? If Villar got his boost by pumping funds on SWS, then did Aquino-Roxas allies paid the past surveys that magnified him as the public’s best choice?

If surveys can be bought, why then would LP brag about topping it for the past months? If numbers could be manipulated to fit the “wanting” of some presidentiable, isn’t it fair to say that the other surveys conducted where LP bagged the top spots were also “schemed”? If we talk about capability to dole millions, why should we discount the Aranetas who are behind LP? Or the Cojuangcos that would of course favor Noynoy? If Villar and his supporters could make shell out ratings, then what guarantees us that LP was not doing the same trick especially when they are all coming from the same survey outfit?

It is sad to admit that there are candidates who wanted to absolve themselves. Those who feel like they have the greater advantage simply because they “think” they emulate being good. Goodness is never inherited nor is it rehearsed. Being the son or brother of somebody that is famous does not necessarily mean that he is a good candidate for sainthood or state tribute. In order to be somebody, LP’s main man has got a lot of things to prove, one including that he can stand by his own shadow and can claim that he for one made something significant. Thus, I agree with Sen. Aquino that the surveys are junk and a total waste of time, I simply don’t believe that Juan dela Cruz would be that ignorant to sanctify him.

RIGODON SA KAMPO NI NOYNOY AT MAR INAABANGAN

Hindi pa pala plantsado ang lahat tulad ng inaakala ng nakakarami. Malakas ang ugong-ugong na ang kampo ni Senador Noynoy Aquino at Senador Mar Roxas ay humaharap ngayon sa isang malaking intriga patungkol sa aktwal na pagpapatupad ng kanilang plano na “Noynoy-Mar” tandem para sa dadating na eleksyon sa 2010. Ayon sa isang tagapagmasid sa kampo ng Liberal Party ay posibleng magkaroon ng isang rigodon at magkapalit ng pwesto sila Noynoy at Mar kung saan si Mr Palengke ay babalik bilang standard bearer ng LP at si Noynoy ay babagsak para maging kandidato ng partido sa pagkabise presidente, ito diumano ay mangyayari bago matapos ang kasalukuyang taon.

Ang pagdeklara kay Noynoy sa labanan ng pagkapangulo at ang pagtanggap naman ni Mar bilang ka-partner nito ay hindi nangangahulugan na sila ay opisyal nang mga kandidato. Ito ay isang plano pa lamang na maaaring mapalitan lalo pa’t hindi pa nakapaghain ang dalawa ng kanila-kanilang opisyal na candidacy sa COMELEC. Hindi diumano papayagan ng grupong tinatawag na “The Firm” na maging pangalawa lamang si Mar. Ang grupong “The Firm” ang siyang nasa likod ng kandidatura ni Mr Palengke at tumutulak dito upang tumakbo sa pagkapangulo.

Ito ang isa sa mga pinanghahawakan ng grupong “The Firm” kasama na ang umiinit na intriga sa pagitan ng mga ibat-ibang grupong maka-Noynoy na ating namang natuklasan na pare-parehas palang naghihinanakit dahil sa sobrang pagkiling ng unico iho ni dating Pangulong Cory sa kanyang mga kapatid at ibang miyembro ng kaniyang pamilya sa tuwing may gagawing hakbang o di kaya ay bubuuing mga plano para sa 2010. Dahil dito ay nakakaramdam ng pagiging “out of place” ang mga kilalang miyembro ng Hyatt 10, ilang LP members at iba pang civil society groups na masugid na ipinalutang ang “Noynoy for President” sa kasagsagan ng pagluluksa kay President Cory Aquino.

Ang ganitong klaseng pagtatampo o ang pakiramdam ng pagtraydor ay pwedeng mag-udyok sa mga grupong ito na tuluyang talikuran si Noynoy at iakyat ng muli si Mar Roxas bilang kanilang kandidato sa pagkapangulo. Hindi ba’t kung sa ngayon pa lamang ay hindi na nila lubusang nahahawakan sa leeg si Noynoy ay posibleng sila naman ang ilaglag nito sa panahong ito ay magtagumpay sa 2010 at siya namang ika-uunsyami ng kani-kanilang mga personal na plano?

Ang posibleng pagririgodon ni Senador Noynoy at Senador Mar Roxas ay isang kaabang-abang na kaganapan sa bakod ng Liberal Party na una nang nag-akalang may malaking bentahe dahil sa mistulang mainit na pagtanggap ng mga tao sa Noynoy-Mar tandem. Ngunit ang ningning ng kahit ano mang bagay o tao ay lilipas din kung siya ay napapalibutan ng mga tao o grupong sisira dito.