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Noynoy: Hacienda Luisita distributed to farmers by 2014


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
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