I WRITE in replay to Neal H. Cruz’s column titled “Villar’s C-5 Extension vs Noynoy’s SCTEx.” (Inquirer, 1/27/10) In that column, Cruz curiously repeated a number of allegations hurled at Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III by Crispin Remulla.
There are just three points I would like to make.
First, the P83 million paid by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) to Hacienda Luisita Inc. was compensation for the road right of way and not for the construction of the interchange. The purchase of the land was in accordance with the government’s original plan for SCTEx, and did not require any diversion whatsoever. In the C-5 controversy, the original plan was abandoned to give way to the road re-alignment which traversed a number of Sen. Manny Villar’s properties.
Second, Aquino did not participate in any meeting relating to the project; neither did he lobby for it in any forum. Aquino certainly did not use his influence as a legislator to push for the project. This is in stark contrast to the case of Villar who even used funds from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to pay for the road right of way purchased from his own companies.
Lastly, unlike Villar’s controlling interests in the companies that benefited from the C-5 irregularity, Aquino’s interest in HLI is limited to less than 1 percent of the entire shareholdings.
The issue is not about Aquino, but he has been maliciously dragged into the fray by Villar’s allies in their desperate effort to turn a straightforward government transaction into an empty controversy, perhaps to divert attention from their candidate’s improper refusal to defend himself in the Senate.
—EDWIN LACIERDA,
spokesperson,
Presidential Campaign
of Benigno S. Aquino III
had there been no electionin the offing the controversy about the c5 extention should have never come out as an issue against anybody now…which eventually now drops as a bomb to demoliosh villar’s credibility in his bid for presidency …with the noynoy camp capitalizing on this blow since they feel so much it is advantageous for noynoy….. however please let the people know what noynoy did to cicumbent the approval of the insertion….as you alwaya insist in all corners of this blog that noynoy’s rule as a lawmaker was he concentated as fiscalizer all the way in his term as a lawmaker… ” FISCALIZER” as his scapegoat in fact did never serve because he never performed niether… IF HE REALLY DID HIS JOB AS A SENATOR, THEN THE INSERTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED…..MR. LACIERDA KINDLY EXLAIN IT BETTER SO THE PEOPLE MAY KNOW…..
Thank you for the post Josen. =) Perhaps some people might indeed feel that the C5 Controversy would not be this blown up if there were no upcoming elections. However, precisely because there is an upcoming election, it becomes infinitely important to know the truth about this controversy. The Filipino people have a right to know whether the candidates they are eyeing are honest and sincere in saying that they want to help our country. Our votes should be based on truth and so we should be helping in seeking out what really happened. The office of the presidency is the highest office in the land. Any doubt concerning potential successors to this office should ideally be cleared up for the good of both the people as well as the candidate whose name and reputation is at stake. That is why a lot of concerned citizens including members of Senator Villar’s own campaign such as Satur Ocampo, have been urging him to man up and face the Senate so he can help clarify things.
Senator Noynoy has been dutifully performing his role as a fiscalizer. Certainly, he cannot do it alone if the goal is to clear our government of the most deeply rooted corruption. However, with our help, it certainly becomes more possible. =)
sir, Noynoy cannot do it alone but he certainly could initiate it. Can you cite at least 5 concrete instances when Noynoy led an inquiry to resolve a corruption case? If anti-corruption is his advocacy, then 5 should be peanuts. Otherwise, it seems the platform is simply a marketing tool.
WE ARE READING THE PAGES NO? LAM NAMIN KUNG SINO ang NAGCCNUNGALING…si VILLAR PARANG CYA…WHEW!
salamat sa information na ito dahil na linawan ako. Pero gusto ko lang iclarify kung totoo bang masyadong istrikto si Noynoy na hindi siya malalapitan ng less fortunate people. Iyan kasi ang ipinamamalita dito sa aming lugar.
Litaw na litaw naman ang pagkakaiba nung 2: lahat ng ibinabato laban kay NoyNoy e buong tapang at simbilis ng kidlat naman na hinaharap at sinasagot nung tao samantalang itong si Villar iwas ng iwas at parang babaeng nagtatago sa saya ng kanyang mga taga-suporta, me pa-walk-out-walk-out pa… Gloria Macapal Arroyo in the making itong si Villar! Walang galang sa SENADO, playing ABOVE THE LAW, how much more kung presidente na ‘yan… tama na ang isang Gloria, pweh!
CHECK NA NAKA HIGH HEELED para kay CRISTY FERMIN!READ check! tama na ana IM SORRY ni gloria dagdagan pa ng WALKOUT! ..whew!
naku, pero sana iba ang charcter… sobrang ganda kasi ni cory at ang macho ni ninoy!!! pero i love the story…
khit 16 pa lang ako, nananawagan ako sa lahat ng kabataang tulad ko na be vigilant na!!
kasi in the next generation, di natin makikita ang magandang bukas if we don’t choose well…
in god we trust!!!
Last night show for Noynoy moms story is just apart of a showcase or window for those young generation who failed the to witness the brutal repression during the years of Martial Law and Dictatorship. For all of us who lived on those years its like a bird held captive in cage only to be set free by a key of EDSA which enable us to fly free to a new dawn and era of democracy. Today the possibility of reviving those dark days or period are remote and distant, but not ultimately gone that’s because we a have a new breed of leaders whose blood running into their veins wants to rule the nation with an iron fist hand. I think its about time for the party to refocus their attention to cities and provinces which are now govern and dominated by politicians who are corrupt and human rights violators. And yet, what is more bizarre and shocking, this politicians are now wearing yellow colors and raising a glass of champagne of cheers of pride to be a member of the party.
ay naku edwin, remulla kept mentioning that SCTEX issue because wala silang makitang pwede pang gawin issue against noynoy…..thank you for making a clear comparison.
ang nagagawa talaga ng maraming pera ni villar. galing mag-imbento ng remulla twins
Well, tonight I’m not going for the meantime comment on SCTEX, but just take the time seeing and viewing the last episode series of Noynoy’s mom story which will be shown tonight on ABS CBN. My regards again to Noynoy and his sisters.
Hi NeedHelpOnNoynoy! =)
You can please refer to 2 references:
1) http://174.129.29.162/anti-smear/component/content/article/34-anti-smear/55-did-hacienda-luisitia-benefit-unjustly-from-sctex-deal
2) http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view/20100130-250232/Noynoy-Aquino-didnt-push-for-SCTEx
a) On the playing of the Hello Garci Tapes:
Senator Aquino voted against the playing of the wiretaps as a firm believer in due process and in compliance with the law prohibiting the use of wiretaps in a court of law. When it became apparent, that PGMA was all about her political survival and was not interested in bringing “Garci” to justice both President Cory and Senator Noynoy called for her resignation on 8 July 2005. It took them less than a month to call for justice.
b) On whether Senator Aquino was more than necessarily involved in the SCTEX Project:
Senator Aquino has absolutely and categorically denied any malicious involvement in the SCTEx project. In fact, Senator Aquino did not lobby for the project. He did not participate in any meeting related to this project as a measure to avoid a conflict-of-interest. As a matter of delicadeza he avoided exerting any influence over the project as a legislator to push for the project. The 4-part series must be taken with a grain of salt as it was directed by an avowedly anti-Noynoy editor. Not everything in the series is inaccurate of course and we credit the journalist at its craft but not everything can be taken at face value. As a matter of fact, an academic has already raised the issue that the book the author Stephanie Dychiu cited extensively was taken out of context.