Dong denies Palace vendetta vs Cory

TARLAC CITY — Press Secretary Ricardo "Dong" Puno Jr. has vehemently denied that Malacañang is trying to get even with former President Corazon Aquino when the Department of Agrarian Reform decided to review the stock-distribution arrangement at her family’s sugar estate here.

He said in a press conference held at the City Hall that Agrarian Reform Secretary Horacio Morales, who is a native of this province, merely acted on the complaints of some 400 farm-workers inside Hacienda Luisita.

"Kung walang nagreklamo, hindi naman iimbestigahan ’yan (If there were no complaints, there will be no investigation)," said Puno.

It was shortly after Mrs. Aquino launched in this city her nationwide "Prayer Crusade" for the resignation of President Estrada that Morales issued a directive canceling all pending applications of landowners for a stock-distribution option (SDO) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Morales also subjected to review the implementation of SDOs in agricultural properties following allegations of violations of the agreement by landowners.

The 6,000-hectare Hacienda Luisita was particularly cited for the alleged conversion of over 3,000 hectares of agricultural land for industrial purposes and the alleged failure of Mrs. Aquino’s family to fulfill the promise of providing home lots to farm-workers. — Benjie Villa