Quid pro quo between Corona and P-Noy feared on Luisita case-militant peasants

News Release | August 7, 2010 | Reference: Felix Paz, chairman, KMP-Bikol and national council member, KMP | The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) aired its fear that there may be a “quid pro quo” between Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III aka P-Noy regarding the Hacienda Luisita land dispute.

According to Felix Paz, chairman of KMP-Bikol and concurrent national council member of KMP, “we hope that P-Noy’s recognition of CJ Corona’s appointment is not in exchange for a favorable decision for the Cojuangcos regarding the junking of the stock distribution option (SDO) in Luisita,”

“We know that the Cojuangco-Aquino clan’s compromise deal gambit is meant to muddle the land issue in the Supreme Court. Firstly, they are trying to make the upcoming SC oral arguments moot and academic. Second if what we fear is true then they are laying the ground for the justification if the SC decides in favor of the Cojuangcos,” said Paz.

“We are asking CJ Corona and all the SC justices to decide the case based on its merits and not to be pressured or be used in politics by the Cojuangco-Aquino clan. The SC should heed the call of the majority of Hacienda Luisita farm workers to junk the SDO and for the entire estate to be given back to them. It should also not be fooled by the moves of the Cojuangcos who are using deception and harassment to maintain control of the hacienda,” added the peasant leader.

“What we want is for social justice to be served and to again have control of their lives which the Cojuangcos took when they controlled the hacienda. If the SC decides in favor of the landlords then it will again push the farm workers to march to the streets and look for other means to fight for their right to till the land,” ended Paz. # # #