Luisita workers grateful to Corona despite conviction

Workers at Hacienda Luisita. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

TARLAC, Philippines–Farm workers, who benefited from a recent Supreme Court ruling granting them lands in Hacienda Luisita, said Corona’s conviction did not stop them from crediting him for their new lives.

Felix Nacpil Jr., president of Alyansa ng Mangagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala), said, “Kahit papaano nagpapasalamat pa rin kami sa kanya dahil na disisyunan ang Hacienda Luisita (Despite everthing else, we remain grateful to Corona because the court finally ruled on the Hacienda Luisita case).”

In Cagayan, Regional State Prosecutor Rommel Baligod said Corona’s conviction was reflective of the “rotten system” of governance in the country.

“It serves as a warning to all government officials that from now on, no one is above the law. I hope that the impeachment would open a new era of accountability and transparency for our country,” he said.

I just hope that any decision that the Supreme Court will make (on the) impeachment will also be respected,” said Mayor Licerio Antiporda III of Buguey, Cagayan, a Corona supporter, citing reports that the defense panel may appeal the ruling before the high court.In Nueva Vizcaya.

Purisimo Tiam, president of PLT College in Bayombong town, said the country should learn from the “sacrificial lamb,” which was how he described Corona.

Former provincial board member Patricio Dumlao Jr. hailed the manner by which Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile presided over the impeachment trial.“He is the new Philippine idol, a pride of Cagayan Valley,” Dumlao said of the senator from Cagayan. (Reports from Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon)