My exclusive
By Raïssa Robles
Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay presented an interesting proposition to one of his godsons.
Magsaysay had heard that the Spanish owners of Compañía General de Tabacos de Filipinasa or Tabacalera wanted to sell off their remaining asset in Tarlac – the sugar estate Hacienda Luisita which consisted of a sugar mill called the Central Azucarera de Tarlac and some 7,000 hectares surrounding it.
In 1957, Magsaysay told his godson, the young mayor of Concepcion, Tarlac named Benigno Aquino Jr : “I don’t want the Negros sugar people to invade you people in Tarlac.”
Ninoy Aquino of course could read the subtext of Magsaysay’s statement – here’s something for you but at the same time, this would help me politically since I’m at odds with the sugar barons of Negros, namely the Lopez family.
The deal was recounted by the late national artist Nick Joaquin in his book The Aquinos of Tarlac: An Essay on History as Three Generations. Joaquin based the book on, among others, extensive interviews with Ninoy.
Nick Joaquin had interviewed Ninoy Aquino before 1972. I suspect the book that Joaquin was to have published then was intended to launch Ninoy Aquino’s candidacy for president in 1973. It never took place, however, since President Ferdinand Marcos imposed military rule in 1972 and arrested Aquino. It was only in October 1983 or two months after Aquino was assassinated that Joaquin had the courage to publish his book.
Ninoy Aquino made a promise
In his book, Joaquin disclosed the bargain struck between the Philippine government and Ninoy Aquino. The family of his in-laws would buy the hacienda with the help of not only soft loans but also a government-guaranteed loan.
In exchange, the Cojuangcos would give it up after a ten-year period. Joaquin quoted Ninoy Aquino as saying:
The idea was to buy the hacienda, turn it into a viable operation, then subdivide it and sell it either to the workers or to agricultural cooperatives.
Ninoy Aquino was the first administrator or CEO of the estate and he soon turned a profit.
As part of his promise, he tried to turn the hacienda into a model sugar estate with housing for the workers and a free school. He even showed movies to distract the men from gambling and boozing.
Ninoy Aquino told Nick Joaquin why he wanted to turn the workers’ children into white collar workers:
At the rate the hacienda population was expanding the time might come when there would be more people than cane plants. My theory was that if the young learned a profession they would move out of the hacienda; if I could depopulate the hacienda I could give more man-hours per worker and increase the per capita income. So, education and scholarships were at the crux of my strategy.
According to the deal, by 1967 the Cojuangcos were supposed to have eased themselves out of the plantation. This year 2012 marks the 55th year that the hacienda remains in the hands of the Cojuangco clan.
In 1986 when when Corazon Aquino, Ninoy’s widow and a member of the Cojuangco clan, became president she was prevailed upon by her relatives to exclude the estate from direct land distribution.
Now the issue has come full circle. Just this week, the SC forced the Cojuangco family to disgorge Hacienda Luisita to its farm workers. The process will ironically be carried out by the government of Ninoy’s and Cory’s son, Benigno III.
The meaning of the Supreme Court ruling
I asked Christian Monsod, a pro bono lawyer for some of the farmers, the significance of the court ruling.
He said:
This is the biggest private plantation still around. How can you have a successful agrarian reform if this huge plantation is owned by the family of the president?
Monsod also told me some of his observations about the case:
In the first place they (the Cojuangcos) got it due to political connections. Magsaysay told Ninoy about the Tabacalera sale. Some people did not want the Lopezes to get it.
Monsod also noted that the Cojuangcos were able to obtain a loan from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). The Central Bank also helped the family get a loan from the Manufacturer’s Trust Company of New York.
He said the Cojuangcos were able to avoid distributing the land by arguing that they were no longer covered because there were no more “farmers” and no “share tenancy” arrangement. The people working there were all farm workers.
He explained why the SC used the 1989 land value to compute the compensation for the Cojuangco clan.
He said 1989 was the year the land should have been distributed to the farmers. Instead,the land was given a value that year of P40,000 per hectare. This in turned determined the number of shares that were issued to the farm workers in Hacienda Luisita Inc. – the corporate vehicle for the stock distribution option scheme. Using a formula, “they were able to keep down the (farm workers’) shares to 33 and 1/3 of the corporation,” Monsod said. Because of this, the farm workers ended up not controlling the corporation, he said. .
In their decision last Tuesday, eight justices led by CJ Corona decided to apply the P40,000 per hectare value that the Cojuangcos had used for the farm workers 23 years ago.
Monsod said that the justices did not rule all SDOs used by other large farming estates as unconstitutional. He hoped though that the landmark decision would have an impact as well on other estates.
Some one million hectares of farmland in the country have not been placed under land redistribution to this day, including 13 other existing haciendas.
One argument used against land reform by its critics is that tenants and farm workers do not know how to behave as landowners. Before land reform came along, the tenants could simply keep borrowing from the owners and it did not matter either way if the debt kept piling up and remained unpaid. It was simply the way it was.
Now the new owners of Hacienda Luisita will have to acquire a new set of behavior as owners. This is where government agencies like the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are supposed to come in.
This is also where President Aquino comes in. Will he encourage the hand-holding of democracy or keep his hands off it – thereby discouraging or slowing down the entire process.
Aside from breaking up the land, agrarian reform is intended to dismantle the old power structure engendered by centuries of land-based feudalism.
When I covered the Senate in 1987 I saw how Senate agrarian reform committee chair Heherson Alvarez and other senators watered down the agrarian reform law by inserting the stock distribution option (SDO) scheme. Everyone covering the Senate knew without a doubt that this was meant to shield Hacienda Luisita from redistribution.
This week, the Supreme Court ruled with finality that the way Hacienda Luisita had implemented the SDO was unconstitutional and ran against the very spirit of land reform.
I think land reform is long overdue in this country. However, I am perplexed why Chief Justice Renato Corona has been linking his impeachment to the Hacienda Luisita issue.
CJ Corona did not link Hacienda case to his case
You see, over a year ago, CJ Corona appeared in a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) as the main speaker.
When he was asked about his relations with President Aquino, CJ Corona replied:
It’s a very complex situation we have here. There are people who don’t want me at all as Chief Justice. They happen to be against the previous administration and who apparently (are) now in favor of the present dispensation. It’s a whole complex web. You can pinpoint which is which. All I know is there are people who went out of our way to disparage the Supreme Court. When a situation like this occurs you sort of wonder how.
That was all CJ Corona said. He did not connect the Hacienda Luisita case to efforts to remove him from office.
He had a chance to link the two when I asked him during the same January 2011 forum what he intended to do with two high-profile cases that had social justice implications. One was Hacienda Luisita. The other was the coconut levy case. (The second case has to do with the ownership claim of 10,000 coconut farmers of a chunk of blue chip firm San Miguel Corporation.)
CJ Corona merely replied to me:
We are already discussing the Hacienda Luisita case and it (the decision) will be out soon. We are discussing the coconut levy case.
That was all he said. He made absolutely no link then between efforts to oust him from the high court and the Hacienda Luisita case.
He only started making a link between the two the moment he was impeached.
Recall that the Corona-led court almost unanimously ruled to parcel out Hacienda Luisita over the objection of its owners – the maternal clan of President Benigno Aquino – on November 23, 2011. Fourteen justices voted “yes” while only one – Associate Justice Antonio Carpio – abstained.
Corona was impeached 19 days later on December 12, 2011.
It was only after he was impeached that he said the root cause of his trouble was the Hacienda Luisita ruling, particularly his “blocking” of efforts to benchmark the value of the land at 2006 prices.
Last Tuesday April 24, eight of the justices including Corona voted to use 1989 as the benchmark, thus depriving PNoy’s relatives of a multi-billion peso windfall in government “compensation” for the expropriation of the land that the government helped them buy in the first place.
Corona told reporters in a text message: “I am certain that the administration will get back at me.”
But what about the seven other justices? Do they feel the same way?
Perhaps Corona can be more explicit about what he means.
baycas says
Still no readable SC decision. DAR Sec de Los Reyes also noted this yesterday.
—–
BTW,
The reminder:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/183593/ombudsman-reminds-gov’t-execs-employees-of-saln-deadline-monday
The lesson:
http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/news/national/2453-saln-the-corona-lesson
The secret:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/256903/news/nation/sc-justices-file-their-salns-but-keep-these-secret-from-public
The question:
How about the Ombudsman’s?
The bottom line:
Transparency badly needed.
Belissima says
I re typed Jarius Bondoc’s article from The Philstar:
The $2,858,977.22 consists of seven alleged dealings in Philippine Savings Bank-Katipunan branch, near Corona’s Quezon City residence. Six, totaling $2,387,298.76, are deposits and credit memos; one, for $471,678.46, is an outward remittance. The supposed details:
Account # Transaction Date Nature US $ Amount
1. 141019349 08-05-2008 Deposit $ 764,344.78
2. 141019678 10-06-2008 Deposit 455,210.07
3. 191000373 10-31-2008 Deposit 768,733.96
4. 141019678 07-06-2009 Credit Memo 9,280.70
5. 141022046 12-23-2009 Credit Memo 254,729.25
6. 1024292 07-27-2011 Credit Memo 135,000.00
SUB TOTAL ———————— $ 2,387,298.76
7. 12-15-2009 Outward Remittance $ 471,678.46
TOTAL ——————————— $ 2,858,977.22
A “deposit” is in cash or check; “credit memo” can be proceeds from a remittance, time deposit or interest, or a transfer from another account. “Outward remittance” is a payment made from the depositor’s account. The $2,387,298.76 is worth P100,755,944.16 (in today’s $1:P42.205). The $471,678.46 was P22,023.610.65 (in September 2008’s $1:P46.692).
In asking Corona to reply, the Ombudsman cited three complaints for undeclared assets. Reportedly it had gathered details of Corona’s peso and dollar deposits in various banks, using the waiver at the back of his annual sworn Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. The waiver authorizes the Ombudsman to obtain records of an official’s wealth.
Publicized at the start of Corona’s impeachment trial were five of his purported dollar accounts in PSBank. Supposedly leaked by a “small woman” to a congressman-prosecutor, one document detailed an account number 08919100037-3, with opening balance of $700,000 in October 2008 (P33,617,500 at $1:$48.025).
JiroArturo says
@Belissima
Totoo pala yon sinasabi na $700K. Si Jinggoy yata ang nagtanong kung ano ba ang K na nakasulat sa bank account.
Admissible kaya yon evidence na yon?
Victin luz says
@jiro
Palagay ko admitted iyan sa impeachment trial pare. Patay ang senaodr na mag abswelto Kay corona nyan, talo sa sunud na election.
JiroArturo says
Hindi rin ako kunbinsiyado na matatalo sa election ang mga nagsiboto for acquittal. Magpalabas lang ng malaking pera ang mga yan siguradong panalo.
Victin luz says
Iyan talaga ang mangyayari, magbabayaran na naman sila. Sa aking paniwala kasi karamihan na nang Filipino ngayon lalo na MGA botante natin ay ISMARTE na din e. Mahirap mo na silang magulangan sa ibang bagay lalo na kung tungkol sa mga pang a raw araw na kabuhayan nila. Sa kabundukan man o sa mga eskwater area dyan sa Maynilla pag dika alert DI Ikaw pa ang maiisahan nila. Kaya lang pag dating sa BOTOHAN pag mabigyan ng pera sila, sinusunud nila ang gusto ng MGA kandidato na magbayad sa kanila. He he dito sa pagkakataon na ito ayaw nilang manggulang. Pwede namag tanggapin nila pera at wag iboto pag nas voting place na sila. Ang isang snatcher , bigyan mo nang isang libong peso pambili ng halimbawa isang gamit, 90% itatakbo Nya pera mo at hindi na nagpapakita sa iyo. Bigyan mo nang same amount para iboto ang isang politiko 95% tuwang tuwa at ipagyayabang pa nila na ibinoto ka at karamihan sa mga taong ganito , magsasama o mangungumbinsi pa nang tutulad sa kanya. It’s very hard to comprehend who we are and what really do we want. Pera pera talaga ang labanan sa atin pa.
nelson ongpauco says
ito ang dapat gawain ng mga tao para makabawi sa mga politikong bumibili ng boto tanggapin ninyo ang pera at iboto ninyo ang kalaban gamitin natin ang utak natin ang mga politiko ay kumakandidato para magpayaman ang tinutulungan nila ay mga kamaganak at kaibigan hindi ang lahat na taong bayan palagay ko naman ay alam na ninyo ito.bawian nag mga kurap na politiko ..kung natatandaan ninyo ang bagong politiko ay mahirap pag napapuwesto to na biglang yumayaman …lumalaki ang mga bahay nagiging mayabang nag mga anak dahil politikop ang magulang …
Thinking Out Loud says
True. Mananalo pa rin ang mga senador na mag-aacquit kay Corona. The voting public should be educated. Sad to say, hindi pa ganyan ang marami sa atin….marami pa rin ang bumuboto based on popularity.
Bonifacio Katipunero says
paano nila yan nakuha? baka naman allowance lang yan ni Thief Justice???
wag na tayong magtaka kung bakit kapit gorrila at hindi mabitawan ng walang kagalang galang sa sobrang kawalanghiyaan ng justice thief! bwehehehe
kulanepigsa says
Presenting: Rapist ng Inang Bayan! Ang pekeng pangulo – The Gloria Arroyo Legacy..
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-arGOyM4fJys/T6AoE9cG45I/AAAAAAAAABw/-VaFqhaRn1E/w1202-h973-k/rapistnginangbayan.jpg
paki share na lang.. Let’s give them what they deserve: LEGACY OF SHAME!
Ang mga pilipino ay hindi na natutulog. Usigin ang mga mandurugas sa gobyerno!
come to think of it, masahol pa sila sa mga street pickpockets na binubugbog at kinukulong dahil nagnakaw ng era para may makain.. masahol pa sila sa rapist na namomolestiya.. itong mga government officials at employees pinapasweldo naman natin pero libo libo, milyon milyon ang dinudugas sa gobyerno araw araw pero hindi napaparusahan. palagi na lang ba tayong magpapaloko? bangon pinoy! parusahan ang mga Rapist ng inang bayan! NO MERCY!
Eber Redi says
ibang klase ka pare, ang ganda ng iprint ko na!
Isa na namang obra maestra ni @kulanepigsa!!
Seriously, looking at the photo parang mukhang Mother of all Kulanes and pigsa si GMA dito. Hehehehe. Thanks for making my day!!
Kanina pa ako nakatingin sa mapa ng pilipinas, awang awa kaming magasawa. Bugbog sarado talaga ang Pilipinas sa GMA Corona partnership. Binenta sariling sovereignty sa ilang pulo tapos pinayagan pa si FG lumabas ng bayan para ano, malamang magwithdraw ng pera para ano lalong hagupitin ang Pilipinas.
Mabuhay ka @kulanepigsa , teka puwede ba kitang tawaging COOL HAND LUKE
parang asiwa ako sa kulane pigsa at least katunog din naman. Magandang umaga pare, umaga 1058 dito sa amin.
Bonifacio Katipunero says
oo nga, ang sama ng kulane at pigsa parang ang sakit.. hahaha mas bagay sa kanila yun… sige nag change na ako ng handle from now on call me Bonifacio Katipunero. I think mas relevant ito.. wala akong tabak, mouse lang at web ang gamit ko..
check this out..
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=117329565070136&set=a.117211661748593.18204.100003792809195&type=3&theater
Eber Redi says
Pareng Boni salamat sa pagpalit ng pangalan, ngayon ko lang nabasa to.
Hehehe tuwang tuwa si Mrs sa obra mo pati na yung barkada dito.
Gabi na rito 1245 am. Alam mo ba sa gabi pala nakakatakot tingnan yung blow up picture ng Mother of all Kulane, iba ang dating ng dark brown background
hehehe parang lalabas sa picture. Puwede sa halloween to!
tenk yu again..
Bonifacio Katipunero says
Ok lang pareng Eber. tamang tama talaga yan pang halloween. ganda naman kasi ng custume ng pekeng pangulo nung tumatakas sya. parang tutuo talaga na malala ang sakit.
tama nga kayo, nakaka awa talaga ang Pilipinas. Ewan ko ba, kahit na wala ako sa Pinas hindi ko pa rin maiwan sa isip ko na makita kong maunlad ang ating inang bayan at maayos ang pamumuhay ng mga pilipino.
Nakakakapagtaka lang, yung mga government officials natin nakakadalaw naman sila sa ibang bansa pero bakit hindi nila maayos ang ating gobyerno at ang pamamalakad nito. Bakit hindi nila mai apply sa Pilipinas kung ano ang nakikita nila sa ibang bansa?
rochie says
I agree that Hacienda Luisita should distribute the lands to its farmers as part of the land reform program. In fact, the CARP was the centerpiece of Pres. Cory’s six years term.
However, it is common knowledge that the late president’s share in the hacienda was only about 4.7 percent. Divided equally among, and inherited by her five children by operation of law, it’s not even one percent each share.
My question is- can Noynoy, even as President of this country, prevail over his relatives who hold a lot more shares than him or his sisters? Will they follow him now that he has made statements to the effect that his family ( the clan) would abide by the SC ruling? Will his words be more powerful than that of the Board of Trustees of the HLI corporation of which he is not a part?
PNoy is really being tested
Victin luz says
Of course Pres. PINOY can’t dictate or prevail upon the decisions of his CLAN’s as you have said PINOY only owned minority shares in the HACIENDA. But our LAW will ENFORCED SC latest decision, but again his relatives opposed to the latest SCourt Rulings can always have the option to exhaust all the available avenue in our RULE’s of COURT to over rule said SC decision. That is PART of DUE PROCESS and the essence of DEMOCRACY.
gil G says
Of course Pnoy can. All he has to do is enforce the supreme court decision. The clan can shout to high heavens, but in the end they must abide by the law.
rafael l. vidal says
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AFP MODERNIZATION PROGRAM?
Due to repeated coup attempts by gringo to reform the armed forces, RA 7227 (3/92), as amended by RA 7917 (2/95), the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), was created primarily to finance the self-reliance and modernization of the AFP.
Under the watch of FVR, various US bases in Subic, Clark & Camp John Hay were transformed into exclusive economic zones (EEZ), including the sale to private entities of the sprawling Fort Bonifacio (700 has) and the Villamor Air Base (170 has).
41% of the proceeds of the said sales and income from the EEZ, which amounted to P21.788B as of today (BCDA website), were already remitted to the National Treasury for the account of the AFP.
It appears that the desired reforms & modernization program of the AFP did not materialize as evidenced by the 7/27/03 Oakwood mutiny led by then NavyLt.1SG Antonio Trillanes and the 11/29/07 Peninsula Hotel standoff by Gen. Danny Lim and Senator Trillanes.
What happened to the AFP special fund and the total reported income of BCDA from its creation amounting to P53.14B?
With Scarborough dispute in mind and the 2 senators on the watch, can we now expect a modern AFP under PNoy?
Newark2002 says
Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, itong AFP special fund ay kasama sa mga nakulimbat ng nakaraang administrasyon ng Armed Forces. Ang masakit mismong mga generals nito ang umubos sa pera ng mga sundalo. Hindi pa nga sila nakukulong dahil sa kinurakot nila. Hanggang ngayon ‘yong biyuda noong general na nagpakamatay para masave ang perang ninakaw nya, ay patuloy pa ring nagpapasasa sa perang nakaw.
Bonifacio Katipunero says
kung i sequester lahat ng nakulimbat na pera ng mga rapist ng inang bayan, sigurado lalakas ang depensa ng pilipinas dahil sa laki ng magiging budget ng AFP!
Den says
Napaghahalatang walang karanasan si Corona sa paglilitis sa loob ng hukuman. Lumalabas ang tunay na kalibre sa kanyang paglulubid ng mga kasinungalingan. Nuon, isang boto lamang daw siya sa usaping Hacienda Luisita, ngayon siya daw ang bayani ng mga magsasaka sa usaping reporma sa lupa. Kamakailan lamang, buong tapang (o yabang?) na iginiit na ilalabas nya ang mga datos ukol sa kanyang dollar accounts sa tamang panahon. Ngayong pinagpapaliwanag siya ng Ombudsman ukol sa mga ito, ang sagot niya ay wala siyang dollar accounts (“it simply does not exist…”). Hindi pa ba siya nalilito sa kanyang paglulubid?
Aba eh, ano ga ang tunay? Na wala namang dollar accounts? Meron ngunit kulang sa sampung milyon? O, meron ngunit higit pa sa ipinaparatang ng Omdudsman? Sa aking palagay, hindi magiging pabaya ang Ombudsman upang maglagay ng isang halaga na hango lamang sa haka-haka. Sa mga sakdal na isanampa ukol sa usapin ng ilegal at tagong yaman ng Punong Mahistrado, walang nabanggit ng sampung milyon. Samakatuwid, ang halagang ito ay maaring bunga ng pagsasaliksik ng Ombudsman. Kung inyong matatandaan, ang kasalukuyang Omdudsman ay nanindigan sa pagpapawalang bisa ng mga sakdal na walang matibay na katibayan kahit na ito ay di katangap-tangap sa mga tao. Samaktuwid, hindi isusulong ang kasong ito kung walang matibay na katibayan na maaring magdiin sa nasasakdal.
Sinusubukan ng Punong Mahistrado na ilihis ang ang isipan ng mga tao sa pamamagitan ng sigalot sa Hacienda Luisita. Minamaliit nya ang kakayahan ng mga tao na mapagtanto ang kanyang mga kasinungalingan at pagtatago ng tunay na katotohanan. Ito ay isang malaking pagkakamali dahil ang mga tao ay mulat na at pinagmumunihan ng mabuti ang mga pangyayari. Tuwing magbibitiw ng salita si Corona ay naaalala ko si Imelda Marcos na walang kagatol-gatol na nagsabing sila ay namumuhay ng mahirap pa sa daga mula ng sila ay mapatalsik sa kapangyarihan at nasamsam ang mga ari-arian. Isang katawatawang kasinungalingan na tanging mga panatikong loyalista ng mga Marcos lamang ang maniniwala.
Sa huli, ang taongbayan ang magwawagi. At pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito, marapat lamang na lahat ng nakipagsabwatan kay Corona na ikubli ang katotohanan, at linlangin ang taongbayon sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga kasinungalingan, ay maparusahan din. Walang kapatawaran ang kanilang pagtataksil sa bayan at ang pagtalikod sa kapakanan ng nakararami. Hindi ito paghihiganti, tulad ng nais na ipaniwala sa atin ni Corona at ng kanyang mga kasabawat. Ito ay katarungan para sa ating bayan, isang mapait at masakit na paghihilom ng mga sugat ng ating lipunan. Mahirap, ngunit mahalagang hakbang patungo sa tunay at pangmatagalang kapanatagan at kaunlaran.
Rene-Ipil says
Den @70
As always, very well said. It is my pleasure and privilege to read your posts.
OPM really needs one like you who can emphatize and articulate our aspirations.
Onward OPM!!
sakura girl says
@ Den, ang galing naman. Your articulate posts in English and Pilipino are gems to keep. Inspiring too. Galing talaga!
pinay710 says
@den maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw ang iyong paliwanag. sana marami ang natauhan lalo na ang mga kabataan. salamat at binabati kita.
Den says
@Rene-Ipil, the pleasure is mine. We should thank Raissa and Alan for keeping this site up and running. It gives us ordinary citizens of this country a venue to let our voices be heard.
@sakura girl, maraming salamat sa mabubuting salita. nais ko lamang ibahagi ang aking saloobin, ngunit malaking karangalan kung ang aking mga isunulat ay may mabuting naidudulot sa mga makababasa.
@pinay710, maraming salamat sa pagbati. Kasama mo ako sa adhikaing maging mas mulat ang kabataan sa mga isyung may kinalaman sa kanilang magiging kinabukasan.
Newark2002 says
@Den
Kahanga-hanga ka kaibigan. Sana maraming pang magsulat ng saloobing katulad mo. Ako ay nanalangin na ang taong bayan ay tunay na mag-isip sa mga pulitikong niluluklok nila sa pwesto. Huwag na sana silang bumoto sa mga trapong kandidato. Panahon na para guminhawa naman ang Pilipinas. Alisin sa pwesto ang mga kurakot..magnanakaw na tulad ni Thief Justice at pekeng Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Hwag nang ipwesto ang lahi nilang magnanakaw.
Hwag sanang iboto ng tao si Binay at Erap… mga gahaman din sila sa pera ng bayan.
Mabuhay si Raissa at pagpalain ng Dyos..kasamang lahat ng taga Cyber Plaza Miranda.
Thinking Out Loud says
Tama po kayo dyan. Ngayon pa lang, maraming mga tao ang nagpaparamdam na tatakbo sila sa susunod na eleksyon….panay na ang pagpaparamdam sa TV, disguised as product advertisement or foundation kuno kuno. Let us start to expose these people. Sa ganitong kaaga eh willing na willing na ang mga taong yan na gumastos para sa kanilang mga ads. Bakit kaya?
Den says
@Newark2002
@Thinking Out Loud
It is not enough that we will have clean and honest elections. More importantly, we need an informed electorate that will use discernment to vote into office upright and capable leaders. One cannot be effective without the other.
This is where we can all help. Social media has become a potent force in making available information that can shape public opinion. We are all called upon to do our share in shaping public opinion.
Change will not happen overnight, but this coming election will give us a singular chance to scrutinize candidates and share information and opinuions about them. Social media gives us the platform to share our views with others with immediate multiplier effect.
Clean elections and voter education is the way to go.
Dennis Zarauz says
@Den,
Aba eh, sama na rin ako dinhe. Katulad nang sinabi nila….ANG GALING kabayan!
Onward CPM!
Den says
@Dennis Zarauz, salamat tukayo!
baycas says
Labor Day 2012
Since Kabalyero01 (@32.2) and Rene-Ipil (somewhere @11.1) quoted Solita Monsod, there is approximately 811 ha. remaining with the Cojuangcos out of the 1,527 ha. that are NOT to be distributed.
Would anyone please care to ask the Cojuangcos and DAR what will happen to the “eight hundred and eleven” to satisfy anyone’s curiosity?
Victin luz says
Are you implying the program missed a GENUINE LAND REFORM to conform the true meaning of SOCIAL JUSTICE?
The Cojuangco’s and the DAR will always give a satisfactory answer to our curiosities. Better give your opinion and the CPM er’s will discuss.
baycas says
Better read Solita Monsod’s article. It’s her opinion not mine.
Besides, I didn’t quote her.
Better ask @Kabalyero01 who copy-pasted Solita Monsod’s article at comment No. 32.2.
Then let anyone ask the Cojuangcos and the DAR what will happen to the “811”.
That’s my opinion…considering there are scarcity of facts to the issue raised by Solita Monsod through @Kabalyero01.
Thank you.
Victin luz says
@32.2 neither @11.1 is nowhere to be found thanks
baycas says
I am sorry about that ’cause it’s comment No. 33.2 by Kabalyero01 and not what I’ve typed. He said:
…then he went on to copy-paste Solita Monsod’s article.
Anyway, point is, farmers will get less than a hectare as pointed out in an Inquirer article @Mel had copy-pasted somewhere below (comment No. 59, if I’m not mistaken again).
It may be very well for the DAR to account for the “811” that will remain with the Cojuangcos. Karagdagan din ito sa kabuuan kung sakali ngang maaaring ipamahagi sa magsasaka.
Victin luz says
Oo nga po. I am also wondering about that 811 ha.’s . Why was not included/added to the SC’s identified area for land distribution. Kahit naman nakasanla sa banko o naibenta sa iba ay pwede namang expro. Ng gobyerno natin. Maybe it was intended also to the heirs of the Cojuangco’s.
divide nila sa kanila.
Victin luz says
Sorry Rene Lito na din ako, he he dami ng figures na nadating , see the dollar of corona sa Phil. Star , detailed na naka post pa. Palagay ko true and correct ang 10m$ na iyan. Lahat ng Banks na may dollar account si corona nag submit Kay Ombudsman. Patay na si Corona into.
JiroArturo says
@victin luz
Wala naman akong nakitang detail ng dollar account ni Corona sa Phil Star. Wala ngang article kahit isa tungkol sa dollar account na sinasabi mo. Paki link nga ang website.
JiroArturo says
Sorry Victin luz. Heto pala ang article na sinasabi mo:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=802738&publicationSubCategoryId=64
Sa PSB lang yan $2.8M. Meron pa sa ibang bangko. Posible ngang meron $10M o mahigit pa sa $10M si Corona.
Victin luz says
Punta ka sa Kabila , may post si Rene doon sa my father works at bir
Rene-Ipil says
Baycas, Victin Luz @69
I think that a part of the 811 hectares is the 500 hectares bought by RCBC from HLI. That’s why Justice Carpio inhibited himself in the supreme court deliberation on HLI because he was a former counsel of RCBC.
May be the rest of the 811 has. includes the land used as expressway. I don’t think that the 266 has. mentioned by Winnie Monsod for roads and creeks include the area for the expressway.
Anyway my reason in using Winnie’s article is to point out the different values of the land in 1989 – 40T vs. 170T – as you may notice in my post at 11.1.
Victin luz says
He he Rene nas ’twas ang sago ko sa iyo.Mali
Martial Bonifacio says
This proves that the defense is reading Mrs. Robles blog.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/185331/corona-cries-reprisal-by-aquino-hits-pdi
Refer to my comment+baycas+kabayan2020 #46 and 67, i guess their plan failed due to our cyber plaza miranda
@baycas, kabayan2020: im glad na marami pa rin pilipino na hindi madaling mauto. Nalimutan ata ni Atty. Quicho na media is high tech and we can refer everything to the internet. Especially mga timeline ng pangyayari.
Ngayon from “retaliation” sinasabi nila na well coordinated ang PDI at ombudsman.
raissa says
The defense is reading YOU GUYS.
Hala!
Mel says
Sige lang.
Tamad siguro silang mag research. O nangangapa ng pulso ng bayan o mula sa mga Cyber Plaza Mirandans.
Kamusta kayo mga abugado ni R Corona? Paalala ninyo ang ‘due time’ ng kliyente ninyong paTAKLA sa mga dollar deposit accounts niya.
Nasaan na ang SALN ni R Corona circa 2011. baka mamarkahang ‘tardy’ o pass due date.
Mel says
Ginang Raïssa
mukhang kailangang maglabas ka ng latest R Corona article or ukol sa Senate Impeachment.
Para tugma ang mga komments, walang troll dito sa ‘Will President Aquino now fulfill his father’s promise on Hacienda Luisita?’.
raissa says
Patience, Mel.
Darating din tayo diyan :)
lemonlemmings says
NaEExcite na ko jan siguradong blockbuster na naman ang exculsive Corona article ni Ma’am Raissa.
Di na ko makapaghintay kung anong kaya latest chika kay Corona hehehe
JiroArturo says
@Lemonlemmings
Tungkol saan ang exclusive ni Raissa?
Martial Bonifacio says
Refer to my comment number 46 then watch this interview:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/insights/04/30/12/punto-por-punto-ombudsman-asks-corona-explain-10-m
Atty. Quicho (defense lawyer of corona): At 12:56-13:00 “Mukhang eto na yata ang balik sa amin ng palasyo.”
I guess i hit the nail on the head lol :)
Anton Mendoza says
Watch ptv 4 guys
techburns says
@Martial Bonifacio
oh really!
These complaints to the ombudsman had been reported by media long time ago…
Ombudsman’s letter to TJ was received April 23rd.
HLI decision was made on April 24th.
OK a, nauna yung ganti. hehehe
you might have hit the nail on your head LOL!
techburns says
sorry i didn’t read 46
erase
erase
erase
LOL
baycas says
Tama ka, techburns.
Nauna talaga ang “ganti”, “balik”, o “resbak” na pinagsasabi nila.
Nagmamaang-maangan pa si Corona…kahit naman sa Office of the Ombudsman ay may galamay ‘yan. ‘Di pa nailathala o naisapubliko alam na niya na siya’y iniimbestigahan ng Ombudsman.
aces high says
@ Martial Bonifacio
Taberna was asking where did the Ombudsman got the $10 M figure that she asked the TJ to explain? Riza Hontiveros also has no answer because what they just asked the Ombudsman to investigate was the dollar accounts at PSB. Am inclined to believe that the figure came from AMLC which was requested by the Ombudsman for the records of bank transactions of the TJ amounting to 500K and up which are reported to AMLC by all banks.
Rene-Ipil says
Aces High and Martial Bonifacio @67.3
Martial Bonifacio immediately defanged Corona’s assertion that the 10M dollar findings by the ombudsman is in retaliation to the HLI decision of the supreme court.
It would have been different if Corona said that the ombudsman’s revelation was a preemptive strike – not a retaliatory act.
AMLC monitors all bank transactions 500T pesos and above or it’s equivalent in dollars. So that in a given period AMLC could ascertain the amount of money deposited or withdrawn in Corona’s bank accounts.
Even a fifth grader could now determine how much was deposited and withdrawn, and come up with how much is left, if any, on a certain date.
My theory is that nothing is left anymore in Corona’s dollar accounts. That is why he boldly said that he does not own $10M nor does it exist. In other words, the bank accounts are no more for they were all closed already. And I am not sure if AMLC has any record of such closures.
Onward OPM!!
Victin luz says
Mayroon , recorded na lahat iyan once you are marked as PEP Rene .based on my friends sa CBank.
Victin luz says
To be exact Rene monitored kana kaya you are already recorded, in and out of your dollar deposits.
Rene-Ipil says
Victin Luz @67.3
Tama. Thanks.
Victin luz says
Tingnan mo Rene sa Phil. Star ngayon,
detailed na ang dollar account ni corona diba.
gil G says
Ombudsman can probe Corona, says Santiago
By Marlon Ramos, Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is not legally barred from separately investigating impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona for allegedly having $10 million in bank deposits, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, a constitutional expert, said Sunday.
Acting on several complaints filed in her office, Morales ordered Corona on April 20 to explain in writing how he managed to have millions in several peso and US-dollar accounts in the bank in spite of his modest government salary.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer obtained a copy of Morales’ order, and published the story Sunday.
Corona received the order on April 23. Through his lawyer Ramon Esguerra, Corona denied having $10 million in the bank, saying the complaints were part of a “black propaganda” against him. He said the Ombudsman had no jurisdiction over the Chief Justice.
In ordering Corona to explain his alleged bank accounts, Morales cited her powers under Republic Act No. 6770, the Ombudsman Law.
Article XI, Section 13, of the Constitution also authorizes the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate, on its own, complaints against any public official for illegal acts.
The same article, however, states that the Chief Justice is an impeachable official, meaning he can be investigated and impeached only by the House of Representatives and be tried and removed from office only by the Senate. Does this mean the Constitution bars the Ombudsman from investigating Corona?
Santiago said the Constitution does not expressly prohibit the Ombudsman from investigating the Chief Justice.
“It’s a matter of interpretation. There is no categorical prohibition. It’s just the logic of the situation involved,” she said in an interview on dzBB radio.
She said the government had the right to prosecute “an impeachable official like the Chief Justice.”
And as it was the government that brought charges against the Chief Justice, “all the government’s prosecutory resources should be concentrated on proving his guilt,” Santiago said, noting that the penalty after conviction in an impeachment trial is only removal from office and disqualification from running for public office.
The senator said that although the Office of the Ombudsman had the power to investigate Corona, a preliminary investigation by the Ombudsman would “complicate matters because there would be two separate investigations concerning the same subject matter.”
“I would think that is unfortunate at this time because he’s being asked to fight a battle on two fronts,” Santiago said.
But she added that she favored a deferment of the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation.
“Let him first defend himself [in the Senate],” Santiago said. “If he is found guilty, then he would be the subject of [a criminal] investigation, where the Ombudsman could come in since the Ombudsman is like our fiscal or prosecutor,” she said.
read more in….
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/184781/ombudsman-can-probe-corona-says-santiago
max says
“I would think that is unfortunate at this time because he’s being asked to fight a battle on two fronts,” Santiago said.
———
Unfortunate for whom? Not for Filipinos. Actually, you might as well add BIR into the fray. Whatever Corona is facing now, he brought them unto himself. IF he operated with some God mentality who is above the law and accountable to no one but himself, he has reasons to worry. But, IF he operated above board, he should have nothing to worry. His defense must be consistent and straightforward.
++++
“Let him first defend himself [in the Senate],” Santiago said. “If he is found guilty, then he would be the subject of [a criminal] investigation, where the Ombudsman could come in since the Ombudsman is like our fiscal or prosecutor,” she said.
++++
IF he is found guilty, then… What if he is found not guilty or acquitted by the senate/prosecution court? Does the ombudsman have to be dependent on the prosecution’s judgment? just asking Mme Defensor.
Victin luz says
TAMA KA DYAN. TUPAK AT SINUNGALING SI MDS. TWISTING THE FACTS TWISTING EVERYTHING. DAPAT ang TAONG Ganito ang binibigyan nang parusang HABANG BUHAY na NAKAKULUNG sa MENTAL HOSPITAL. SAYANG ang BALA sa mga TAONG GANITO. AT LEAST SA MENTAL PWEDI SILANG KUMAIN ng LEFT OVER bago MAPANIS.
saxnviolins says
It seems Miriam did not read the Section 22 of RA 6770, cited by Carpio-Morales for the investigation.
The power granted by law is the power of “investigation”; to undertake fact-finding, for the purpose of filing a verified complaint for impeachment. This is not a preliminary investigation as a prelude to a criminal case.
Note the limiting effect of the phrase “for the purpose”…. The other powers did not state a purpose, so that is a general grant of power. But this grant of power is limited by its purpose.
As always, the specific provision prevails over the general.
Looks like this is another case that may be elevated to the Supreme Court for a TRO. The other justices may save Corona, not for his sake, but to indirectly save themselves. That is what happened in the case of Zaldivar v Raul Gonzales, when Gonzales sought to investigate all Supreme Court justices. The decision was a perfect study in obfuscation. They said that RaulGon had no power to investigate Zaldivar, so they prohibited the prosecution of the case before the Sandiganbayan. But even if RaulGon were not the Ombudsman, he was a de facto officer. Besides, the Sandigan had already acquired jurisdiction.
Hometown decision na naman. Not for Corona, but for the justices themselves. Ganoon din yung Davide case, penned by Carpio-Morales. What goes around comes around.
Similarly, what if you want to file a complaint against Carpio-Morales, or any Ombudsman? You have to go to that office.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who guards the guardians?
Mel says
G’day @saxnviolins!
KAMUSTA?
VERY NICE to see your handle pseudonym again @saxnviolins.
Hindi ko pa nabasa iyong comment mo, pero kakamustahin muna kita.
May you share your legal mind with us again. @Johnny Linn was sort of asking about you. LOL!
We look forward to your inputs and challenging comments.
BTW, the honorable Ombudsman threw in a letter of ‘please explain to R Corona’ regarding his (allege) $10M of unexplained wealth in different bank accounts.
Does she or doesn’t she have jurisdiction? MDS claims she has – subject to interpretation daw. R Corona, this time didn’t announce ‘in due time’, rather silence – aka snubbed.
—-
sorry for the troll, Raïssa.
Mel says
@saxnviolins, you wrote, “Looks like this is another case that may be elevated to the Supreme Court for a TRO.”
Should R Corona run to his OWN court of Supreme justices to order another iTRO, his OWN ASSociates could grant him special favor, again. PROBABLY, THIS TIME – A COURT RESOLUTION ON … re R Corona’s dollar accounts with finality.
On another realm, this $10 m aggregate of different currency accounts could only be a publicity stunt to muddle up the Senate Impeachment’s timeline and process. This was ALREADY raised last Feb or March this year. WHY ONLY NOW? The Ombuds[wo]man came out with a ‘please explain or to comment’ letter to R Corona just before the SI restart come May 7.
A parallel investigation? Yet recently, we don’t know (no public announcements nor reports) if the AMLC has provided the Ombuds[wo]man with recent and official reports as to those aggregate foreign & PH currency accounts of R Corona.
For the meantime, just to comment or reply.
A reactionary question, how far will Ombuds[wo]man Carpio-Morales would go with the 3 complaints? Would she attend and provide as witness to the Senate Impeachment, too? … even just to consolidate her complaints with the House’s Articles (II) of Complaints? How flexible can the Senate-Judges accommodate the Ombuds[chairwo]man into their Chamber?
Someone asked, ‘Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who guards the guardians?’
A vigilant and ‘we care’ sovereign people. For evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
Victin luz says
Since No Petition has been filed at SC praying for a TRO and to prevent OMBUDSMAN from further actions and until a TRO will be granted and OMBUDSMAN compliance therewith, I believe Hon. CARPIO – MORALES will continue her investigation to complete evidences in anticipation for the filing of criminal cases against CORONA if Convicted and for the filing of another Impeachment Case in the event he will be acquitted.
In my opinion, Hon. Carpio-Morales position in the witness stand will all be calculated on the defense presentation of witnesses and evidences , it’s corresponding weight as evaluated by the PROSECUTION and the SENATOR-JUROR inclined for Coronas conviction. Of course , after the Enrile lead Senate decided to invite Hon. Ombudsman to the witness stand and an acceptance of her on the invitation, whether or not TRO is granted.
For the second time, if ever a TRO will be granted to Corona but evidences like the detailed PSB dollar accounts coming out for the people thru the media adding the PULSE of the PEOPLE for CONVICTION it will be very hard for the Senator-Juror not to go AGAINST the Supreme Court this time.
We have to remember the Declaration of Senate Presidant Enrile that in an IMPEACHMENT TRIAL although Rules of Court is suppletory to the LATER and an Impeachment Procedure was adopted by the Senators, what they are proving is the fitness of Corona to continue as Chief Justice and the punishment is removal from office and to hold again govt. Office , so the quantum of evidence needed to convict is not proof beyond reasonable doubt but only preponderance of evidence nearer to substantial evidence. That detailed dollar accounts and it’s amount can never be considered as HEARSAY and if proven it goes beyond preponderance to a proof beyond reasonable doubt, good enough for Corona to be convicted for the crime of PLUNDER.
It was again suggested by Sen. Enrile to the Defense and to the prosecutor especially to the Senator- Juror to read the book of Rauol Berger in Impeachment for their guidance in arriving the right decision in the Corona’s case. In that particular book it state how leniency is allowed in the reception of evidence and how flexible for the house of lords/commons in accommodating witnesses. Now, It all defends to the Hon. Ombudsman to attend or not to attend the hearing and to other circumstances that will arise during the continuance of the trial.
Sam says
From Inquirer
——————————-
Malacanang later in the day turned the tables on Corona, pointing out that the Ombudsman had asked the Chief Justice to explain the alleged bank deposits through a letter dated April 23, or a day before the high court issued its final decision on Hacienda Luisita.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that “obviously”, the Ombudsman’s letter to Corona was not a retaliation on the Hacienda Luisita ruling.
“It is highly possible that since the Chief Justice already knew that he was required to explain by the Ombudsman, he is now conditioning the public to think the letter was a retaliation, when in fact it came before the Luisita decision,” Lacierda said in a text message to reporters.
He said the Chief Justice “should be more prudent with his statements.”
“It clearly shows his unstatesmanlike behavior,” Lacierda added.
——————————–
——————————–
Corona said the order of the Ombudsman is “no different from the phoney LRA (Land Registration Authority) list, phoney U.S. property list, phoney surveys… The Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over the Chief Justice.”
——————————-
Iyak na ba si CJ?
fz says
he should. it;s included in his 2010 campaign
sam says
latest sa ABS-CBN
—————————————–
Corona said Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over the chief justice since impeachable officers can only be removed by Senate.
“I do not own 10m dollars. It simply does not exist,” he reiterated.
——————————————-
if the ombusman will later enumarate the banks and respective accounts and their balance, surely TJ will change his statement … tapos sasabihin niya “i did not change the story”
Rasec says
I do not (own) ? $10 million,, hmmmn, another wiggle room for the CJ, supposedly there’s a real 10 million dollars in different accounts/banks , he could easily say yes I have it in my account, i have it, but I did own that money LOL,, like BGEI 34 million pesos, it’s somebody’s own money your honor :)
Sam says
@Rasec
I was thinking maybe he don’t have 10M US$, maybe there could be more …
Mel says
Perhaps, R Corona wanted to correct or add that it isn’t $10 flat.
IT COULD EVEN BE MORE.
Let’s wait for the Ombudsman’s detailed discoveries.
Baka makuryente na naman tayong lahat dito.
Gaya nuong alleged mistress ni R Corona duon sa US.
baycas says
Huh???
Sino’ng nakuryente doon sa halata namang pakana ng kampo ni Corona?
Ni hindi nga pinatulan ‘yon ng may-ari ng blog na ito.
Mel says
kamusta @baycas?
ang tanong mo kabayan, ‘Sino’ng nakuryente doon sa halata namang pakana ng kampo ni Corona?’
nuong mga unang araw ng ‘kabit exposé’ kuno ni R Corona, marami ring na kuryente. Ilang beses tinanggal ni Ginang Raïssa ang mga links ng mga ibang pahayagan, blog links, pati mga komentaryo sa kaniyang blogsite na ukol duon sa ‘kabit exposé’ (basahin ang mga kommentaryo sa mga artikulong nakaraan. halimbawa ‘Corona through Corona’s eyes’, #50.2).
UNVERIFIED ang desisyon ni ginang Raïssa sa kaniyang blogsite. Pati iyong mga unang nakalusot – tinanggal din niya.
Kung hindi ka nakuryente, Good on you. Nguni’t meron ding iba.
Ngayon ukol naman sa ‘Ombudsman letter to R Corona about his $10m alleged dollar and peso accounts’, iyon ay basehan sa mga 3 grupong tao at organisasyon na nagreklamu (unverified, with no supporting official documents) sa kanyang pamamahalaan.
Hangang ngayon, lumipas na ang 72 oras na ibinigay kay R Corona upang sumagot sa sulat ng Ombudsman (Apr 23-26). Sa mga pahayag ni Ombudsman Carpio-Morales kamakailan, walang binanggit na ‘latest’ report mula AMLC. Duon sa blogsite report ‘Ombudsman asks anti-money laundering body for Corona’s bank records By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files’, pinabulaanan ng ‘AMLC Executive Director Vicente Aquino said he was not aware of such a letter in his office. “We have not received such request,” he said.’
SIGURO NGAYON, MAY BAGO at pangsakuluyang report NA si Ombudsman Carpio-Morales. Pero wala pang pampublikong pahayag na kumpirmado na ‘in written verified reports’.
Ang sulat ni Ombudsman Carpio-Morales para kay R Corona (Apr. 20, 23-26) to reply or comment ONLY.
Siguro ang 72 oras kay R Corona ay kada 8 working hours, not including weekends & public holidays. Kaya he is taking his time. Sabi ng atongado niya, he can disregard the mail to comment.
Note date of E Tordesillas report. DATE: March 19, 2012 2:46 pm
baycas says
Pakibasa rin ang posts ko sa ibang blog posts.
Salamat.
Mel says
I try máte.
Your comments and research are that good.
Gaya mo rin, oras din ang kailangan.
We should also try to reply and comment on other’s comments.
I hope Raïssa would also release investigative reports (or updates) on GMA, Abalos and the Ampatuans. And most important of all, something on the national election slated for next year – 2013.
baycas says
Please note also what you said:
(Emphasis mine.)
Excuse me, not ALL were “electrocuted”!
Do you want the perpetrator/s to know that they succeeded in the ploy to mislead like the 100M bribe they had concocted???
Mel says
LOL! @baycas.
Sila – sila, kami-kami, hah?
Ukol sa DEFENSE publicity stunt of PHP100 M bribe for the Senate-Judges. Nag back-fire sa kanila. It is now with the Senate-Judges to rule on that malicious accusation to undermine the credibility of the seating Senator-Judges. Not one defense lawyer resigned nor abstained from the panel or impeachment, inspite of the unfounded claims.
Mabalik sa ‘kabit exposé’, dumaan din ang ilang araw from its heyday before RR pulled the plug. But I neither added flame nor credence to the rumor. BUT I READ MANY OF THEM, was my interest to read be construed as supporting the rumor mill? I may have felt (aka. ‘electrical shock’ = interest to read) but I didn’t fall for it (electrocutED).
You’re right ‘…not ALL were “electrocuted”’. Happy?
LOL!
Springwoodman says
If Corona’s $10M does not exist, is he willing to make a vow now – as he did with his imaginary real estate properties – that he will voluntarily donate that amount to the hacienda Luisita farmers should the amount be proved to be real in the future?
JiroArturo says
@springwoodman
Hindi nga mabigyan ng pera ang dalawa niyang anak sa Amerika, sa magsasaka pa kaya? Sabi lang niya na ipamimigay niya ang ibang properties kung meron matuklasan pag aari niya. Yon dalawang anak dinadamay pa sa kabalustugan ng ama. Anong klaseng ama si Corona?
Kabayan2020 says
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/185147/corona-belies-owning-10-million-in-bank-accounts
Baka nga Hindi na 10m kasi nagastos na yung iba, naibili na ng lupa at condo…ang tama siguro eh… Less than 10m na lang! Hahaha
max says
Hopefully the farmers will make the most of this opportunity to improve their plight.
How about the other haciendas e.g. Hacienda Arroyo in Negros Occidental. Haven’t heard much about it.
philcruz says
What about the thousands of hectares of sugarcane farms owned by Danding Cojuangco. Are these included? Or are they exempted? I understand a big portion of his sugar farms had been converted into orchards.
So what is the difference between a large sugar farm and a large orchard farm? If a large sugar farm should be redistributed, why not a large orchard farm?
max says
Digging time….fair and square, regardless of political alignment—be it Aquino or Arroyo parties. Implementation must be across the board.
There are haciendas and vast tracts of land that could be further developed by investors and other entrepreneurs. A brief look at sulit and other ads will show thousands of acres being sold. Many of them go idle and unproductive. There could be more job creation. Investors make money and workers could benefit from these developments. But, investors are worried that once they have invested and developed these properties, they will have to give them up in favour of workers. Ownership/investment (their hard earned money) would be divested from them without due compensation.
An investor is concerned about personal and investment safety. A potential investor in Bukidnon and some areas in Luzon is concerned that he has to pay “tax” money to some rebels and the like (or else…). Also, there is great worry that eventually, the workers/government will take over ownership of their property. While the business potential is good, at the end of the day, it is not worth doing business in the Philippines. Hence, investment funds go to Brazil and other safer areas.
There must be a healthy business atmosphere and a FAIR business model that protects both the owners and the workers–beneficial to both parties. (Businesses should thrive regardless of incumbent political parties.) If the government has addressed these major issues, PLEASE publish them, highlight them so investors would be properly informed. Philippine embassies/trade attaches must strategically and aggressively promote them in various countries. Many Philippine expats are interested to invest back home too. At this time, appropriate information is almost non-existent.
Philippine embassies must be staffed or must have some resources that have solid business sense. If that proves difficult, embassy staff must be able to direct potential investors to a centralized business development centre that can address all concerns of future investors. Rotaries, American Chamber, European Chamber of Commerce, etc. should have a one-stop shop–pooling their resources together. They should be reachable online or via skype.
There are some business models in Brazil (and others) which are worth looking into. Their coconut plantation industry, agri-business businesses are thriving well. It may take time to adapt them but they are good–feasible models. Full implementation may take longer than Pnoy’s tenure. Better late than later.
pinoy_overseas says
Some of your assessment are correct.
Anyway here is a great online resources that idendify 7 sectors having potential for investment and growth in the Philippines.
Arangkada Philippines – (www.arangkadaphilippines.com or http://www.investphilippines.info). But it is ironic, the Philippine government or DTI could not even put a beautiful site like that.
max says
@ pinoy_overseas says
Thank you for including the link. That is very helpful.
One thing that an investor would like to have from the government – if an investor purchases a 1000 acres of property or so would there be an assurance that it will be a protected investment that he can pass on to his/her family and not subjected to land reform down the road.
A positive reply would be greatly appreciated.
pinoy_overseas says
I’m not sure if you are just looking for real estate property or business venture type of investment.
For business venture type of investment don’t use Sole proprietorship in registering your business.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sole_proprietorship
Better go to a corporation type business registration to have better legal protection. Create a corporation with your family as the major stock holder and hire a professional manager to manage your investment. Find a good lawyer and CPA accountant and seek professional advise from them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation
max says
You’ve been helpful.
Thank you.
Will share this info.
pasky says
@pinoy_overseas:
Thanks for the link; 7 good reasons to be positive with our beloved motherland.