Farmer groups hit Coco Levy Fund EOs

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Coco Levy Funds Ibalik sa Amin (CLAIM) movement decried yesterday two executive orders (EOs) issued recently by Pres. Aquino, saying they would “diminish the claim of small coconut farmers over the controversial coconut levy funds and could be seen as a form of plunder.

The KMP and CLAIM were referring to EO 179 and  EO 180 seeking to privatize the coco levy funds, specifically shares in United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) Oil Mill Group.

CLAIM spokesperson Nestor Villanueva said “the small coconut farmers’ long demand is for the government to return the coco levy money and assets to its legitimate owners and not to privatize and sell these fund and assets for the benefit of big businesses in the coco industry and Aquino’s self interest.”

“The privatization will completely diminish and deny small coconut farmers of their legitimate and rightful claim over coco levy-funded assets and corporations which include, among others, the CIIF-oil mills and the United Coconut Planters Bank,” Villanueva said.

He noted that “there is no guarantee that small coconut farmers will benefit from the proceeds of Aquino’s sell-out and privatization. This is plunder in the highest order.”

KMP chairman Rafael Mariano said that in signing the executive order, “Aquino appears to be saving the best for last.”

“Aquino and his coco levy mafia are saving the best for last. Aquino signed the coco levy EOs to fast track the completion of their plunderous scheme and benefit from the billions of pesos of small coconut farmers’ money before their imminent downfall,” Mariano said.

“At the same time, the issuance of the anti-coco farmer EO is designed for political survival. Aquino and his spin doctors are now using the coco levy fund issue in an attempt to diffuse mounting calls for his resignation. But the blatant grabbing and sell-out of the coconut farmers-owned UCPB and coconut oil mills will hasten Aquino and his coco levy mafia’s removal from power,” said Mariano.

Both the KMP and CLAIM called on small coconut farmers nationwide to launch “protest actions mainly directed against Aquino.”