- Camp of Davao City mayor blasted senator for defending businessman in coco levy fund issue
- Poe was likened to a lapdog beholden to Cojuangco for absolving him
- Senator’s camp denied accusation, says she’s committed to helping coconut farmers too
MANILA, Philippines – Taking issue with Sen. Grace Poe for saying it is the government and not Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. who should settle the controversial coconut levy fund, the camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte blasted the solon for being a ‘puppet’ and ‘lapdog’ of the businessman.
“The statement could only be coming from one who is not only a lapdog but at most a puppet — someone who clearly is only in the running for the highest position because of being beholden to her benefactor,” PDP-Laban spokesperson Paola Alvarez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “Absolving Danding, who is your backer, is protecting his interests. It also means that the injustice committed against Filipino coconut farmers continues. It means you allow that.”
The fund, which was amassed from taxes imposed on coconut farmers in a scheme hatched by Marcos cronies in the 1970s, was allegedly used by Cojuangco to buy United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), San Miguel Corporation and several businesses.
However, Poe’s spokesman Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, rebuffed claims the solon was absolving the businessman from any liability in return for the endorsement of his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
“Senator Grace Poe is committed to helping poor coconut farmers in the country by increasing the budget allocation for the agriculture,” he said. “Senator Poe is also committed to tap the coco levy funds, which the government has been withholding from farmers despite Supreme Court decision with finality that the coco levy funds are public funds.”
Earlier, Poe said it is now the government and Cojuangco who should return the coco levy to the farmers based on a 2012 Supreme Court decision categorizing it as public funds.
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