Villar vows justice for Luisita victims

By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star)  

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560191&publicationSubCategoryId=63

TARLAC City, Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and running mate Sen. Loren Legarda (Nationalist People’s Coalition) vowed to pursue justice for the victims of the so-called Hacienda Luisita massacre five years ago.

Villar and Legarda, along with NP senatorial bets Adel Tamano, Toots Ople, Gilbert Remulla and Ilocos Norte Rep. Bongbong Marcos campaigned last Saturday in the home province of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer, Sen. Noynoy Aquino.

Villar said he would allow the wheels of justice to run their course if he becomes president and would look into the issue of land distribution after the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) under the administration of Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, failed in their family-owned Hacienda Luisita.

Legarda, on the other hand, said that those who have committed crimes and human rights violations in connection with the massacre should be brought to court.

She also took potshots at Aquino, saying that a candidate who has no respect for the rule of law and tolerated the killing of the aggrieved Luisita farmers should not be elected to the presidency.

Tamano expressed concern that the issues surrounding the non-compliance of the Aquino-Cojuangco clans to subject the 7,000-hectare Hacienda Luisita to land reform will not be resolved under an Aquino presidency.

He reminded the people that agrarian reform secretaries of the Aquino administration from 1986-1992 are also present in the LP team.

He said the same implementers of the CARP, which supposedly put Hacienda Luisita beyond the reach of the law, are again forming a cordon sanitaire around Noynoy and playing key roles in the LP campaign.

Tamano identified them as Florencio Abad and Philip Juico, who were both agrarian reform secretaries during the Aquino administration, and Ernesto Garilao, who served as agrarian reform chief from 1992 to 1998, under the term of Aquino-anointed successor Fidel Ramos.

The NP spokesman said the three Aquino “musketeers” also engineered what he called the “Great Hacienda Luisita Land Grab.”

“The recent New York Times article on Hacienda Luisita quoting Senator Aquino’s cousin was actually a sneak preview of things to come under his presidency. The Noynoy Aquino caretakers intend to preserve the Aquino-Cojuangco crown jewel that is Hacienda Luisita,” Tamano said, referring to the statement of Aquino’s cousin, Hacienda Luisita chief executive Fernando Cojuangco, who told the New York Times that the family had no intention of distributing the hacienda to farmers.

No solid vote for Aquino in Tarlac

The NP also took a shot at the LP’s alleged snub of Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva’s preparations during the latter’s kickoff rally in the hometown of Aquino’s father.

Villanueva and Tarlac City board member and mayoralty bet Sherwin Rigor are running under the NP banner.

“Not paying due courtesy to a local chief executive shows a lack of manners, not to mention statesmanship,” Legarda said during a break in her campaign in Tarlac, supposed bailiwick of Aquino and Teodoro.

She said the political motivation behind the snub was understandable, citing an ABS-CBN news report that Aquino and Roxas avoided visiting the Concepcion Town Hall, where Villanueva and other local officials were waiting.

“Who will win in Tarlac? In Tarlac City, I know that Sen. Villar will take the lead against his rival. I cannot say for the entire province, but I know there is no solid vote for the other rival,” Rigor said, adding that the camps of Aquino and Lakas’ Gilbert Teodoro tried to get him to withdraw support from the NP but he refused.

“I believe that Villar will win in Tarlac despite being Aquino country. The people of Tarlac have decided to support a candidate who is pro-poor and that is Villar,” he said.

Rigor added that the people of Tarlac want new leaders because they are fed up with politicians who came from the clan of affluent landowners.

Close call for Loren

Meanwhile, heavy rains and zero cloud visibility forced the landing of the chopper carrying Legarda and five others in Sariaya, Quezon yesterday.

The passengers included the senator’s executive assistant Lanie Ediza; Grace Cruz (police aide), Capt. Joseph Espiritu, Flight Engr. Katigbak, and dzRH reporter Florante Rosales.

Legarda’s chopper was forced to land at a vacant lot at the Avalon Subdivision, Barangay Sto. Cristo, Sariaya, at around 12:30 p.m. after hovering around Sariaya for several minutes because of dark clouds and heavy rains.

Legarda started praying the rosary, given by healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez, when they spotted the open field.

“We were battered by the heavy rains and strong winds. It’s fortunate we found the spot,” she said. “Thank God that he spared us from danger and I thank the people here in Barangay Sto. Cristo who went to our rescue. Inaamin ko na nagkaroon ako ng kaba. (I admit I got nervous).”

A passenger admitted that all were nervous but the senator was decisive enough to point to an area where they landed.

Upon landing at Avalon Subdivision, some local folks went to the area thinking the helicopter crashed.

It was one of the concerned residents who rushed to the area and called a tricycle, which brought Legarda and her team to the house of the Sto. Cristo barangay captain.

Legarda and her staff were on their way to Lucena City where the NP and Villar are set to stage the Rockatropa-Wowee concert last night.