Luisita sugar workers among first to vote in Noynoy's polling precinct

TARLAC CITY — Sugar workers in the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita were among the first to vote in a precinct here, and they said they were solidly behind the presidential bid of Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. At least seven workers of the sugar mill Central Azucarrera de Tarlac (CAT), which is inside the 6,435-hectare Hacienda Luisita, lined up at the polling precinct at the Central Azucarrera de Tarlac Elementary School way ahead of the scheduled start of polling at 7 a.m. Joselito Samin flashed the Laban sign — a gesture associated with Aquino — for the cameras and shouted his support for Aquino while queuing up to vote. "Baka sabihin binayaran ako, wala po akong bayad ," Samin said when asked by a reporter whether he was paid to express support for Aquino. His companion, Sonny Boy de Leon, said they weren't angry at Aquino, unlike some of the farmers in Hacienda Luisita who blame Aquino for the non-distribution of the plantation's lands to farmer-beneficiaries. "Hindi po kami galit dahil nagtatrabaho po kami sa kanila e," De Leon said. Aquino, a consistent frontrunner in the upcoming elections, is set to vote in the same precinct later in the morning. His staff said he is expected to come in shortly before 9 a.m.
Said another CAT worker also supportive of Aquino who refused to be named: "Nakagisnan na namin kasi yan e, mula pa nung nabubuhay mga magulang namin, mga Cojuangco na." "Dito na kami lumaki, dito na rin mamamatay siguro," he added with a laugh. [See: Some Luisita farmers to vote for Noynoy] Save for one man who had difficulty in finding his name on the voters' list, no significant election-related problem has occurred in the precinct so far. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV