Did Kiko oppose the release of the inheritance of the poor coconut farmers? ~SHARE

I cannot believe Kiko's reason for warning the Duterte administration against releasing the money of the coconut farmers.

Before going any further, let me expose the double talk a politician uses all the time.

Kiko Pangilinan can always deny that he opposed releasing the coco levy fund because he never directly said he was against its release; however, if you look at it, why didn't he issue a categorical statement saying that he opposed or approved of the release of the Coco Levy Fund to the farmers?

What was Kiko's purpose in issuing a dire warning about the consequences releasing the Coco Levy Fund to the farmers if he did not oppose it?

Kiko Pangilinan's position 
I believe Kiko Pangilinan opposed the returning the Coco Levy Fund to the coconut farmers who are the rightful owners of the funds.  I also believe his reason is incredibly shallow.

This is what he said -- “The incoming administration should seriously study the matter of releasing the coco levy funds directly to the coconut farmers on two grounds namely as to its effectivity and impact on addressing the plight of the farmers and as to its legality,”

“Firstly, many of the coconut farmers who actually contributed to the fund have already passed on and their heirs numerous. Conservatively, coconut farmers population number over three million nationwide.”

“If the P72 Billion fund is distributed directly to coconut farmers that would mean each farmer would receive some P20,000.00. That amount is a little higher than the average annual income of the coconut farmer which is P15,000.00. The amount distributed will have no real impact on addressing poverty,” he further said.

How stupid can this reason be?
The coco levy money is not owned by the Coco Levy Fund, it belongs to the coconut farmers who were forced to pay taxes and were promised shares of the Coco Levy Funds' investments.

• Just because the many of the farmers who contributed have already died, Kiko practically wants the heirs of the deceased coconut farmers to be deprived of their inheritance
• Although it may be true that the amount a coconut farmer will get will not address poverty, the simple fact is the money belongs to the coconut farmers and depriving them is tantamount to the government stealing the money for the poor farmers.
• Instead of finding ways to release the funds to the coconut farmers, Kiko instead cited legal impediments (Presidential Decree 1234) that prevents the Coco Funds release.

What will happen if the coco levy funds are released?

• First of all, the employees of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) may no longer have a jobs.
• Secondly, (if I am not mistaken) the P72 Billion fund will be out of Danding Cojuangco's hands.

If Kiko Pangilinan wanted to release the money to its rightful owners, then he could have a least tried because if there is a will there is way.

Please read the www.newsinfo.inquirer.net story titled "Pangilinan warns against coco levy funds release" which is the basis of my comments.

Pangilinan warns against coco levy funds release

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/791143/pangilinan-warns-against-coco-levy-funds-release

By: Maila Ager @MAgerINQ INQUIRER.net 11:38 AM June 17th, 2016

Senator-elect Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has cautioned the incoming administration against releasing the coco levy funds directly to the coconut farmers, citing its legality and impact on addressing the plight of the farmers.

Pangilinan issued this warning, following President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s reported order that the coconut levy funds should be given to the farmers.

“The incoming administration should seriously study the matter of releasing the coco levy funds directly to the coconut farmers on two grounds namely as to its effectivity and impact on addressing the plight of the farmers and as to its legality,” the senator-elect said in a statement on Friday.

“Firstly, many of the coconut farmers who actually contributed to the fund have already passed on and their heirs numerous. Conservatively, coconut farmers population number over three million nationwide.”

“If the P72 Billion fund is distributed directly to coconut farmers that would mean each farmer would receive some P20,000.00. That amount is a little higher than the average annual income of the coconut farmer which is P15,000.00. The amount distributed will have no real impact on addressing poverty,” he further said.

Pangilinan also cited the Supreme Court ruling, which stated that the P72 Billion coco levy fund held in trust was public funds that ought to be used for the benefit of the coconut farmers and industry.

The distribution of funds, he said, is now covered by Presidential Decree 1234, which gave the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) authority and jurisdiction over the disbursement of the funds.

“The release of these funds will require PCA board approval,” he said.

Pangilinan warned that cash releases directly to the farmers might be questioned in court, again citing another SC ruling.

“The release of the coco levy fund must be guided by the 2012 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Cocofed v. Republic holding that the fund ‘is owned by the government and is to be used only for the benefit of the coconut farmers and for the development of the coconut industry.’” he said.

Incoming Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol earlier quoted Duterte telling his incoming Cabinet that “the coconut levy funds should be given to the farmers.”

“This is an emotional issue for the coconut farmers, including my late mother,” Piñol also quoted Duterte as saying. CDG/rga