Coconut farmers slam Aquino take-over of P56.5 billion coco levy funds - Bulatlat

12.10.12

Coconut farmers slam Aquino take-over of P56.5 billion coco levy funds - Bulatlat: By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — It’s not only business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuango who continues to swindle the country’s coconut farmers, the administration of President Benigo Aquino III is also being accused of the same.

Coconut farmers led by the Kaisahang Pambansa ng mga Magsasaka sa Koprahan (KOPRAHAN) and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) are adamantly protesting against what they said was the Aquino government’s collusion with Cojuangco to completely deny coconut farmers of the original P75 billion ($1.785 billion) coco levy fund. The group said the coco levy funds that had been earlier declared by the Supreme Court to be legally owned by coconut farmers have been transferred from Cojuangco’s San Miguel Corporation (SMC) to the coffers of Malaca�ang.