Cojuangcos’ move shows Aquino’s real motive in impeachment – KMU

“The cat is out of the bag. Aquino’s mind is set on Luisita, not really Gloria.”

This was labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno’s reaction to the announcement made by the Hacienda Luisita Incorporated that it will seek the inhibition of Chief Justice Renato Corona from the Supreme Court’s deliberations on cases related to the land dispute in the hacienda owned by Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s relatives.

HLI spokesperson Antonio Ligon made the announcement, in anticipation of the high tribunal’s deliberations on the HLI’s motion for reconsideration and clarification on the Supreme Court’s Nov. 22 ruling junking the Stock Distribution Option in the hacienda and distributing 5,000 hectares of its lands to farmers.

“Pres. Aquino’s relatives cannot hide anymore their desire to continue owning Luisita or increase their compensation from the lands’ distribution to farmers. They are revealing Pres. Aquino’s real motive in pushing for the impeachment of Corona,” said Roger Soluta, KMU secretary-general.

“It was Pres. Aquino who made the strongest call for ‘just compensation’ for the Cojuangco-Aquino family in exchange for the Luisita’s lands. He acts as his family’s spokesperson and then tries to distance himself from his family at the same time,” he added.

Not fair

KMU also countered Ligon’s statement that it is “not fair” for Corona to imply that the impeachment trial is a result of the Supreme Court ruling on Hacienda Luisita.

“As far as the workers and people are concerned, Corona is on trial because we want former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo punished for her crimes, and Corona is a hindrance to that end,” Soluta said.

“It is clear, and is getting clearer by the day, that Pres. Aquino is merely exploiting the people’s desire for justice over Arroyo’s crimes to get back at Corona for the Supreme Court’s ruling on Hacienda Luisita,” he added.

“Contrary to his claims, Aquino is not serious at all about going after Arroyo. It took his government more than 500 days to file a single case against Arroyo – and these are weak cases,” said Soluta.