The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) expressed its support to the embattled Philippine Coconut Authority administrator Evangeline Valbuena. 

According to Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP, “as long as she fights for the rights of farmers Ms. Valbuena will have our support. Malacanang’s move to ease her out of the PCA is an in your face maneuver, that reeks of money politics and the padrino system. It seems that Valbuena fell from the graces of Gloria when she stood in the way of the use of the coco levy funds to bankroll an P8.4 billion hybrid coconut nursery in Agusan del Sur being pushed by Sec .Arthur Yap,”

Agusan del Sur as everybody knows is not primarily a coconut producing province and its main crops are rice and corn.

“It seems that Department of Agriculture secretary has a stronger grip at the president’s sleeves or the chief executive really needs to another source of funds for her coffers. Even if Valbuena is a bosom friend of the president, “natabla siya dahil sa pera,” added the peasant leader.

As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of the group, “if even a friend of hers was not spared by the president in her bid to get at the coco levy funds, it is high time that a freeze order for the fund be enforced so as to prevent unscrupulous individuals from using it. All transactions concerning the funds should also be scrutinized,”

“As long as the coco levy fund is not controlled and managed by the small coconut farmers themselves, it is an open target for greedy hands,” ended Ala. # # #
 

KMP - 14 April 2005