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THE Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG)
said on Wednesday that they will carefully study the decision of the
Supreme Court that upheld the farmers’ right to intervene in the
pending case involving ownership of a portion of coconut levy funds.
But this early, the commission appeared lukewarm to the possibility
of opening the legal battle to other would-be claimants.
PCGG Commissioner for legal
affairs Narciso Nario told The Manila Times that they have yet to
receive an official copy of the decision of the High Court on the
matter.
He said the PCGG first wants to
read the decision. But this early, the commission appeared lukewarm
when asked if they welcomed the participation of the farmers in
their case against businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, who
claimed that the disputed 20 percent San Miguel Corp. shares were
not public property, and therefore could not be considered coco levy
funds.
“We will of course have to
study it before making any comment or making any next move on
this,” he said.
Asked whether they welcomed the
decision, Nario said it merely “opens doors” to people who might
try to intervene in the case, making things more complicated.
In its decision, the High Court
said that coconut farmers can intervene in the pending case
involving ownership of a portion of coconut levy funds.
The High Court dismissed the
argument raised by Cojuangco that a motion to intervene might be
filed only before rendition of judgment by the lower court under the
Rules of Court. The petition for intervention does not follow the
legal requirement stated under the Rules of Court, he said.
The intervenors include former
Senate President Jovito Salonga and former Senator Wigberto Tañada
They alleged that the PCGG
performed poorly in handling the case, prompting them to take a more
active role in the recovery of the shares amounting to about P18.8
billion.
--Francis Earl A. Cueto
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