This is the ardent hope of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, but seems that we are to be disappointed. According to Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of the group, “Sabio’s statement saying that he would resign if his position on the recovery of the Marcos wealth were to run counter to the president’s is very discouraging. With this statement it seems that we have nothing to expect from Sabio, because all his actions would just be in accordance to the president’s wishes,”

“If that is the case then Sabio might as well relinquish is post and give it to Gloria. He will be useless in the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG). If that is his stand then he is nothing but a figurehead and a mouthpiece of Malacanang,” added the peasant leader.

The new PCGG chair also revealed that Malacanang wants him in the commission since July 2004, saying that while he was still Presidential Adviser for Constitutional Reforms, a Cabinet member told him of a proposal to President Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint him at his current post.

On the other hand Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, “if Malacanang has already handpicked him for the job since last year then we can almost be sure that he would do their bidding. With the Palace’s game plan to get its hands on the coco levy funds and the Marcos ill-gotten wealth, and Sabio at the PCGG, it would definitely be an up hill battle for small coconut farmers to get the coco levy funds back,”

“It seems that Malacanang has succeeded in eliminating government officials critical of its plans for the coco levy funds and the Marcos ill-gotten wealth. But Ms. Yorac and Ms. Valbuena should speak up, if not then all that they have worked for, for the interest of the small coconut farmers will be lost,” ended Ala. # # # 
 

KMP - 3 May 2005