Reposted in its entirety from GMA News.TV, Feb 9 2010
TARLAC- With the ghost of Hacienda Luisita haunting his bid for the presidency, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III vowed Tuesday to ensure the distribution of the 4,500-hectare plantation to farmer-beneficiaries by June 2014.
Aquino made the promise at a press conference in his family’s ancestral home in Concepcion town, which he chose to be the venue of his electoral campaign’s kick-off. [See: Noynoy seeks God's help at campaign kick-off in Tarlac]
Aquino said he has already asked his extended family – relatives of his mother, the late former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino – to find ways to distribute the land to 10,000 farmer-beneficiaries before the end of the government’s five-year agrarian reform program.
Aquino’s spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Noynoy is committed to ensuring the distribution of Hacienda Luisita land even if he loses in the May elections.
“It’s not just a campaign promise, it’s a matter of principle,” Lacierda told GMANews.TV over the phone.
CARP
The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), a flagship program instituted in 1988 during his mother’s administration, was extended until June 30, 2014 to allot more time for the distribution of agricultural lands. [See: Arroyo signs CARP extension bill into law]
“Kinausap ko yung pamilya ko, ang habol namin yung kapakanan ng aming mga kasamahan po dun at ilipat yung mga asset sa kanila (I have already talked to my relatives, we are concerned about the welfare of the farmers there and we want to transfer the assets to the farmers),” said Aquino.
“Ang problema lang po kung paano ililipat ng wala na pong utang dun sa mga aming kasamahan dun (The only problem is how we will transfer the assets without passing on the debts that have been incurred),” he added.
Aquino said that based on his understanding of Hacienda Luisita Inc.’s (HLI) current situation, the corporation’s financial obligations surpassed its income, thus incurring debts.
Debts
Aquino said the Cojuangcos could have easily availed of the voluntary offer to sell option under the agrarian reform program to get rid of allegations that they intend to retain ownership of the land. But they chose not to do so because they first want to clear HLI’s debts to avoid burdening the farmer-beneficiaries who stand to share the land, he said.
“Ang kalaban ng mga magsasaka diyan, hindi si Noynoy at yung kanyang pamilya (The enemy of the farmers is not Noynoy and his family,” said Aquino’s runningmate Senator Mar Roxas II. “Ang kalaban ang mga bangko dahil yung lupain ay…nakasanla sa mga bangko (The banks are the enemies, because the land is mortgaged to the banks).”
Aquino, by his own estimate, owns only about 1/32 of the plantation. Ever since he launched his candidacy, however, the senator has been repeatedly urged to ensure that the land is distributed to farmers as provided for under the new agrarian reform law. [See: Ghosts of Hacienda Luisita back to haunt Noynoy candidacy] - Johanna Camille Sisante/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV
Noynoy is not a perfect leader like everybody else. In fact, no one is. I don’t know when we, Filipinos, shall begin to accept that. All countries around the globe have imperfect leaders. Maybe we should just begin to swallow that and just start to see the REAL SITUATION our country is experiencing now. We are in a deep political turmoil. We are living in disparity. We are in a deep s***. No sum of high-caliber intelligence or political portfolio can assure us that all these will be solved.
Noynoy may be the most unfit to run as president among all of them. Yes, I could say he probably is. He was a mediocre. Yes, he probably was. But do you think a mediocre will decide to run for president when he can just sit around the senate and be JUST a SENATOR? That’s why passion is born among those who seek them. Noy just acquired that passion and we are more than excited to see that.
He uses his parents’ name as an advantage. Yes, he is. Wouldn’t you? His mom is a three-time Time magazine cover and has garnered several awards and accolades for restoring democracy. She is known worldwide as a saint of democracy in Asia. His father died a hero. Both his parents left a legacy hard to surpass. Why did these all happen? Did they force or pay the people to see them that way? NO. They EARNED it. And as a son, Noynoy earns this too. He was PART OF EVERY BIT OF PAIN, HARDSHIP AND SCARIFICE his family has gone through. He was all part of it and he is entitled to GLORIFY his parents’ names no matter what.
I will vote for NOYNOY because I BELIEVE IN HIS GOOD HEART. He doesn’t have even a parcel of GREED FOR POWER. He is just answering what the people are telling him to do. And I believe the PEOPLE. I believe that all these are happening for a REASON. I believe that GOD put him there.
I may not find true confidence in his ways and capacity but with the nation’s prayers, I KNOW and BELIEVE he CAN. I have no assurance that he’ll make our country rich but I know HE WON’T STEAL FROM US. It’s our time to make a choice…. to make hopeful and uncomplicated choice. We had the most brilliant leaders. We had them all. But look at us now? What we need now is a GENUINE HEART. He may be MEEK or WEAK in action and in words; BUT HE HAS A STRONG CHARACTER INSIDE cannot be bent by money or greed. LET’S SUPPORT NOYNOY AND HELP HIM CREATE THIS CHANGE WE NEED FOR OUR COUNTRY.
Bless you, Noy.