Palace: Viral video vs Aquino-Cojuangco clan a rehash of campaign issues

Malacañang belittled on Tuesday the video now spreading online attacking the Aquino-Cojuangco clan of President Benigno Aquino III, describing it as a rehash of issues raised during the 2010 presidential elections. In a radio interview, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said there were several inaccuracies in the video. "Nakita ko na yung video in full, ang una kong naisip ay parang nakita ko na ho ito dati. Noong kampanya po kasi noong tumatakbo pa lang si Senador Noynoy Aquino para sa pagkapangulo, mayroon hong lumabas na ganito ring video, very similar, pareho yung style, iyong rendering. Nakita na ho namin ito nung kampanya," Valte in an interview over Radyo 5. "Natawa pa nga ako dahil ang isa sa naisip ko baka naman po nong 2010 election [pa] ito, ngayon lang natapos kaya ngayon lang inilabas. Nalate ho ang delivery siguro," she added. Valte maintained many of the conclusions in the video were not supported by facts. Video vs Aquino-Cojuangco clan The 15-minute video titled "AQUINO-COJUANGCO: FACTS THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW" was uploaded on YouTube by an anonymous user with the moniker PinoyMonkeyPride on Oct. 21, 2011. As of this posting, it has been viewed 368,375 times. In what appears to be a professionally edited montage of animation, graphics, video, and still images, the production purports to trace the origins of the Cojuangco wealth to General Antonio Luna who supposedly entrusted the gold coins of the Katipunan to Ysidra Cojuangco, an ancestor of President Noynoy Aquino. The video dwells on the purchase of Hacienda Luisita and the Cojuangcos' control of it despite government and farmers' efforts to enforce a 1950s agreement to distribute the land to farmer-tenants. It dramatizes the violence associated with the battle for ownership of Luisita and land reform, including the Mendiola Massacre during Cory Aquino's presidency and the series of killings of leaders of the protest actions on the hacienda. An article posted on the Philippine Online Chronicles website drew different reactions to the video. Among them, blogger Noemi Lardizabal-Dado said viewers must exercise their judgment and discretion whether they believe the video or not. "It is wrong to assume that the Filipino public is stupid and gullible and cannot exercise proper judgment when presented with two contrasting views. I believe the Filipino public can discern the truth," she said. 'Inaccuracies' Citing as an example of the supposed "inaccuracies," Valte mentioned an incident in 2005 where one of Aquino's bodyguards allegedly shot protesters outside the hacienda. Aquino was allegedly around the site when the incident happened. "Then congressman Aquino was on the floor sa Batasan. Marami hong congressman na makakapagpatunay na noong nangyari ang insidenteng yun, si Congressman Noynoy ay nasa Batasan, he was on the floor," Valte said. "Marami hong mga conclusion na pinapalabas doon sa video... when in fact, marami hong evidence doon sa contrary," she added. Valte said they were able to answer the allegations during the campaign. As for the 2005 incident that Valte refers to, and for which she said her boss had an alibi, Aquino has actually admitted that he was in the vicinity in the days leading up to the event, and even spoke to the picketers. Asked about the episode by journalist Malou Mangahas for the TV program Kandidato in February 2010 during the election campaign, Aquino replied: "Nung nakiusap ako malinaw ho dun. Papasok ako at sabi pwede kayong makausap? Huminto ako, dun kami sa dilim nag-uusap. Nag-dialogue kami... Sabi ko, ano bang gusto niyong iparating ko sa management? Yung management, anong gusto niyong malaman naman sa kanila?" Valte explained that the records on the Cojuangcos' ownership of Hacienda Luisita are all public. "Parang nagbibigay ng motibo doon sa ownership ng Luisita. Kung papaano ho siya na-acquire ay isa pa ho yan. Lahat naman ho iyan public records, public documents so maise-set po natin nang madali," she said. PNoy aware of video Asked if President Aquino is already aware of the video, Valte answered in the positive but added that she does not know if the President has been able to watch it. "Sinabi lang naman din po namin sa kanya, in fact, very close to the video that was released in the 2010 campaign. Kumbaga alam na rin ho kasi iyong mga lumabas, it’s a rehash of the same which we have answered time and again," she said. "Marami ho iyong ganong kunwari history based on events but mayroon na hong mga implied conclusion," Valte added. — RSJ/HS, GMA News