PGMA's Speech during the during the Awarding Ceremony of the Gawad sa Pinakatanging Kooperatiba (Gawad Pitak)

PGMA's Speech during the Awarding Ceremony of the Gawad sa Pinakatanging Kooperatiba (Gawad Pitak)

08 August 2002

MARAMING SALAMAT SECRETARY CAMACHO, ANG SECRETARY NG FINANCE AT S'YA RIN ANG CHAIRMAN NG LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES.

BINABATI KO RIN ANG INYONG PANGULO NG LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES -- SI GARRY TEVES; MAGING LAHAT NG MGA MEMBERS OF THE BOARD NG LANDBANK NA NARIRITO, NAKAUPO SA LAHAT. AT IYUNG ATING MGA MAGAGALING NA PUMILI, NA MGA BOARD OF JUDGES NITONG LIMANG ATING BINIBIGYAN NG GANTIMPLA ITONG ARAW NA ITO SA PANGUNGUNA NI SENATOR RODOLFO BIAZON -- ANG CHAIRMAN,

SABI PO NI SENATOR BIAZON, ISANG KAHANGA-HANGANG KATANGIAN NG MGA NAGWAGI -- AY BAGAMAT SILA AY KLIYENTE NG LANDBANK. AY, NANDITO RIN SI SECRETARY OBET PAGDANGANAN, ANG ATING SECRETARY FOR COOPERATIVES. SABI NI SENATOR BIAZON, ISANG KATANGI-TANGING MAGANDANG MASASABI TUNGKOL DUN SA MGA NAGWAGI BAGAMAT SILA LAHAT AY KLIYENTE NG LANDBANK, IBIG SABIHIN UMUUTANG SA LANDBANK. ANG KANILANG RELASYON AY WALANG DOLE-OUT, LAHAT SELF-SUPPORTING, SELF-SUSTAINING.

BINABATI KO RIN ANG AKING KABALEYAN SA PANGASINAN, CO-CHAIRMAN NG LUPON NG HURADO SI CONGRESSMAN NG 3RD DISTRICT SO GENEROSO TULAGAN. MAGING YUNG IBA'T-IBANG MGA KASAPI NG BOARD OF JUDGES AT KASAMA NGA DITO, NAKA-UPO DITO SA ATING HARAPAN ANG ANAK NG MAN OF THE MASSES -- SI JUN MAGSAYSAY. AT ANG AMA NAMAN NG KOOPERATIBA -- SI BUTCH AQUINO. DAPAT BATIIN DIN NATING MULI ANG ILANG MGA NAGWAGI NITONG ARAW NG ITO. DAGITI KAKAILYAK DIAY LAMUT, CONGRATULATIONS DAKAYO AMIN. AND TO OUR FRIENDS FROM THE COOPERATIVE BANK OF BOHOL, CONGRATULATIONS! 'YUNG NON-AGRI BASED, PARATI NA LANG KINUKUHA NG MARIKINA LAHAT NG MGA AWARDS, BARANGKA CREDIT COOPERATIVE, AT 'YUNG OUTSTANDING MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, AGRICULTURAL NA YUN ANG KINO-CONSIDER NATING PINAKA-TOP PRIZE WINNER SA LAHAT, 'YUNG TAYABAS COMMUNITY MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE.

NAGPAPASALAMAT DIN AKO KA GARRY TEVES SA NGALAN NI SERGIO ODESA -- ANG TREASURER OF THE PHILIPPINES SA INYONG BINIGAY NA DIBIDENDONG P250 MILLION PATI NA RIN YUNG STOCK DIVIDEND. SABI KO NGA KAY LITO CAMACHO, DAPAT I-PRIVATIZED NATIN YUNG STOCK DIVIDEND PARA MAKADAGDAG SA ATING PANGTAKIP NG BUDGET DEFICIT. IYUNG BATAS PALA, HINDI PALA PINAPAYAGAN NA I-PRIVATIZED ANG KAHIT NA ISANG SHARE NG LANDBANK. SIGURO IYUNG ATING MGA SENADOR AT SAKA MGA CONGRESSMEN NA NARIRITO BAKA IYUN ANG ISANG PWEDENG MAGAWAN NATIN NG PARAAN PARA MADALA NATIN ANG LANDBANK SA 21ST CENTURY. PALAGAY KO MARAMI DITO SA ATING MGA MULTI-MILLIONAIRE COOPERATIVES ANG MAG-I-INVEST SA LANDBANK PAG GANUN ANG NANGYARI.

ATING MGA MASISIGASIG AT MASISIPAG NA KASAMA SA AGRIKULTURA, MAGING SAAN MANG AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES SECTOR, MGA PILING PANAUHIN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MGA MINAMAHAL KONG KABABAYAN:

UNA SA LAHAT, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SA LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES! AT SIYEMPRE CONGRATULATIONS SA MGA BINIBIGYAN NATIN NG PARANGAL ITONG ARAW NA ITO, IYUNG MGA KOOPERATIBA NA NATATANGING KLIYENTE NG LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES.

ALAM N'YO TUWING IKA-OTSO NG AGOSTO, NASISIYAHAN AKONG MAKASAMA KAYO. HINDI LAMANG DAHIL GUSTONG-GUSTO KONG MAKITA ITONG ATING KLIYENTE NG LANDBANK NA ANG GAGALING MAGBAYAD. SABI NGA NI GARY DINADAMIHAN NA NG LANDBANK YUNG PORTFOLIO FOR COOPERATIVE AND FARM BASED FINANCING KESA YUNG MGA MALALAKING COMMERCIAL FINANCING NA GINAGAWA NOONG ARAW, DAHIL YUNG MGA UTANG NA HINDI BAYAD NA MINANA NI GARY AY HINDI GALING SA MGA MAGSASAKA, GALING SA MGA MALALAKING MGA KOMPANYA. KAYA TALAGANG TANGING DAPAT MAGSASAKA TALAGA ANG BINIBIGYAN NG PAHIRAM NG LANDBANK.

KASI ISANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT DIN GUSTONG-GUSTO KONG KASAMA KAYO SA IKA-8 NG AGOSTO AY NASISIYAHAN AKONG TUWING IKA-8 NG AGOSTO --SABAY-SABAY NATING NAAALALA ANG AKING AMA--SI PANGULONG DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL. DAHIL YUNG ARAW NA ITO, AUGUST 8 SABI NG AKING TATAY, ANG PINAKAMASAYANG ARAW SA KANYANG BUHAY -- AGOSTO A-OTSO, 1963, THAT WAS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF HIS LIFE. DAHIL IYON ANG ARAW NA PINIRMAHAN NIYA ANG LANG REFORM CODE NA S'YA NA RIN ANG NAGLIKAS NG LANDBANK. PINAKAMASAYANG ARAW ITO SA KANIYANG BUHAY DAHIL PARA SA KANYA ANG PINAKA-PAKAY NIYA SA PAGIGING PRESIDENTE NIYA AY MAGKAROON NG REPORMA SA LUPA SA ATING BANSA.

MY FATHER WAS A REVOLUTIONARY, ALTHOUGH A PEACEFUL ONE. HE WAS BORN IN A NIPA HUT IN A RURAL BARRIO IN CENTRAL LUZON, HE WAS DESCENDED FROM A HUMBLE TENANT WHO TILLED THREE-FOURTHS OF A HECTARE OF RICELAND NA HINDI SILA ANG MAY-ARI. HE SUFFERED GENUINE HUNGER AND PRIVATION AS A CHILD, BUT HE FOUGHT HIS WAY OUT OF POVERTY THROUGH THE PATH OF EDUCATION, LIVING BESIDE AN ESTERO IN TONDO AS HE WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH SCHOOL. MULA SA MARALITANG TAGA-BUKID NOONG NAG-ARAL S'YA NAGING MARALITANG TAGA-LUNSOD. HIS EVENTUAL TRIUMPH AS A BAR TOPNOTCHER, A DOCTOR OF LAWS AND DOCTOR OF ECONOMICS, A CONGRESSMAN, A VICE-PRESIDENT, AND EVENTUALLY A PRESIDENT DID NOT DIMINISH HIS REVOLUTIONARY PASSION, BECAUSE HE WAS THE MAN WITH TRULY PEASANT ORIGINS, ANAK NG TENANT TO RISE TO THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT.

WHEN HE ASSUMED THE PRESIDENCY, HE TOOK HIS INSPIRATION FROM THE REVOLUTION OF A PLEBEIAN, ANDRES BONIFACIO. SABI NG TATAY KO, "I REGARDED THE TASK OF THE PRESIDENCY AS AN UNFINISHED AND PEACEFUL REVOLUTION. IT WAS TO BE A CONTINUATION OF THE FILIPINO REVOLUTION OF 1896. SINCE THE REVOLUTION WAS LAUNCHED BY BONIFACIO, A MAN OF THE MASSES, IT CAN BE ASSUMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE FREED THE PEOPLE NOT ONLY FROM FOREIGN RULE BUT ALSO FROM EXPLOITATION BY THEIR OWN COUNTRYMEN."

SINCE TODAY MARKS THE HAPPIEST DAY IN MY FATHER'S LIFE, I WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO BRIEFLY OUTLINE HIS PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IN MANY RESPECTS IT IS STILL AS RELEVANT IN THIS NEW MILLENNIUM AS IT WAS 40 YEAR AGO. AND IT IS REFLECTED IN MY OWN PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT.

SABI NG TATAY KO, "THE TASK OF THE NATION IS TO FIGHT POVERTY, WE MUST BE CONCERNED WITH THE PLIGHT OF THE COMMON MAN AS AN IMPERATIVE OF JUSTICE. WE MUST HELP BRIDGE THE WIDE GAP BETWEEN THE POOR MAN AND THE MAN OF WEALTH, NOT BY PULLING DOWN THE RICH TO HIS LEVEL, BUT BY RAISING THE POOR TOWARDS THE MORE ABUNDANT LIFE."

TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF ADDRESSING POVERTY, HIS PROGRAM LIKE MINE HAD FOUR COMPONENTS.

THE FIRST COMPONENT WAS THE ADOPTION OF AN ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THE SECOND COMPONENT WAS A CONCRETE PROGRAM OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE NATION. THE STRESS WAS ON THE WORD "SOCIAL".

AND THE THIRD COMPONENT SEPARATE FROM THE FIRST TWO --WAS LAND REFORM, WHOSE ULTIMATE PURPOSE WAS TO MAKE POSSIBLE, FEASIBLE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL GROWTH AND TO MAKE PROSPERITY AVAILABLE FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER.

MY FATHER BELIEVED FROM HIS OWN SAD CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE, THAT TO ACHIEVE PROSPERITY SHARED BY ALL, IT WAS IMPERATIVE TO RELEASE THE IMPOVERISHED TENANT FROM BONDAGE.

HE CONSIDERED IT AN IRONY THAT THE PHILIPPINES HAD THE BEST AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL IN LOS BA„OS, KASI NATAYO YUNG IRRI NOONG PANAHON NG TATAY KO. YET OTHER COUNTRIES AT THAT TIME WERE PRODUCING 100 CAVANS PER HECTARE OF RICE, WHILE THE PHILIPPINES WAS ONLY PRODUCING 27 CAVANS AT THAT TIME.

AND THERE WERE MANY POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS FOR THIS. BUT IN HIS MIND, THE MAIN REASON WAS THE LACK OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF THE TENANTS IN ADVANCED RICE TECHNOLOGY, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BENEFIT FROM ANY INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY.

AS THE GRANDSON AND SON OF A TENANT FARMER, HE RECOGNIZED THIS INDIFFERENCE TO BE THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO THE ELUSIVE GOAL OF RICE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, A FUTILE QUEST OF ALL OUR NATION'S LEADERS SINCE MANUEL QUEZON. HE THEREFORE FELT THAT ABOLISHING TENANCY WAS IMPERATIVE TO LAND REFORM.

THAT IS WHY HE CONSIDERED IT, THE HAPPIEST MOMENTS OF HIS LIFE WHEN HE SIGNED, ON AUGUST 8, 1963, 39 YEARS AGO, THE AGRICULTURAL LAND REFORM CODE. IN SIGNING THE LAW, HE SAID, "LET THIS SIGNING BE RECORDED IN OUR ANNALS AS AN ACT OF EMANCIPATION OF THE TOILING FARMERS FROM HIS SLAVERY TO DEBT, POVERTY, AND MISERY, AND OF HIS DIGNIFICATION AS A HUMAN BEING AND AS A CITIZEN."

SADLY, EVEN AS WE CELEBRATE THE 39TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAND REFORM CODE, AND THEREFORE THE ANNIVERSARY OF LANDBANK WHICH WAS CREATED BY THAT CODE, LAND REFORM REMAINS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.

BUT I FEEL PRIVILEGED AND BLESSED THAT I CAN PICK UP FROM WHERE HE LEFT AND CARRY ON HIS BATTLES.

WE HAVE MADE BIG STRIDES IN LAND REFORM IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. SAYANG WALA SI NANI BRAGANZA NGAYON, NGUNIT MASASABI NATIN, THE MORE THAN 100,000 HECTARES DISTRIBUTED BY THE DAR AND THE MORE THAN 150,000 HECTARES DISTRIBUTED BY THE DENR WERE HIGHER THAN THE TARGETS WE SET IN LAST YEAR'S STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS. AND THIS IS ACHIEVED UNDER A BUDGET INHERITED FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WHICH COULD ONLY COVER 70,000 HECTARES OF COMPENSABLE LANDS.

HOW DID NANI BRAGANZA DO IT? WITH A VERY BIG HELP FROM THE LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES.

I CONGRATULATE THE LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SURPASS OUR TARGETS FOR LAND DISTRIBUTION EVEN IF THE NATIONAL BUDGET FOR LAND REFORM WAS A PITTANCE. AND I CONGRATULATE THE LAND BANK FOR BEGINNING TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL MANDATE AS PROVIDED IN THE LAND REFORM CODE OF 1963, THAT MANDATE OF THE LANDBANK IN THE LAND REFORM CODE IS --TO FINANCE LAND REFORM.

BINABATI KO RIN ANG LAND BANK DAHIL MERON KAYONG BAGONG GUSALI. MAGKAKAROON KAYO NG PROGRAM MAMAYANG GABI. AT NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO NA DOON SA INYONG BAGONG GUSALI, YUNG AUDITORIUM AY PINANGALAN NINYO SA ALAALA NG AKING AMA NA SIYA RIN ANG AMA NG LAND BANK DAHIL ANG LAND BANK AY NILIKHA NG KANIYANG LAND REFORM CODE, AKO RIN NILIKHA N'YA DI KAPATID KO ANG LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES.

IN THE PAST 15 YEARS, HIRAP NG HIRAP ANG LAND REFORM. THE LEVEL OF WORKABLE LANDS FOR DISTRIBUTION UNDER LAND REFORM HAS DECLINED DUE TO GROWING CONSTRAINTS. FOR INSTANCE, FORMIDABLE ISSUES INVOLVED IN LAND ACQUISITION AND DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERIZED BY STRONG RESISTANCE FROM LANDOWNERS, AND EVEN ISSUES AMONG FARMER BENEFICIARIES NOT TO MENTION LIMITED GOVERNMENT RESOURCES. HALIMBAWA NGA YUNG LANDBANK, NAGULAT AKO YUNG ILANG MGA CREDITORS NG LANDBANK NAGLALAGAY NG MGA CONSTRAINT NA DAPAT HINDI GAMITIN YUNG PINAPAHIRAM SA LAND REFORM. EH, HINDI YUNG KAUGNAY DOON SA TALAGANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT NATAYO YUNG LANDBANK. YUN AY NAGING ISANG PROBLEMA NGAYON SA PAGTUTUPAD NG LAND REFORM. KAYA SABI KO SA MGA SUMUSUNOD NA MGA FINANCING AY AYUSIN NATIN AT IBALIK NATIN SA TALAGANG PAKAY NG LANDBANK. PARATI KONG SINASABI, SINCE THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT OF DECEMBER LAST YEAR -- NA DAPAT ANG PINAKA-PAKAY NG LAND BANK AY KUMUPKOP NG MGA RESOURCES PARA MAPONDOHAN ANG REPORMA SA LUPA.

AND WITH THE INVALUABLE SUPPORT OF THE LAND BANK, IT IS WORTHY TO NOTE THAT THIS YEAR SO FAR, NO, NO FIRST LAST YEAR, OF THE 250,000 HECTARES OF LAND THAT WE DISTRIBUTED 18,000 HECTARES WAS DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE COMPULSARY ACQUISITION SINCE THE START OF LAND REFORM. AT PAG KUMUKUHA COMPULSARY, IMBUES NA HINIHINTAY MONK IBENTA NG LAND OWNER YUNG LUPA, THIS IS AN AFFIRMATION OF POLITICAL WILL TO DISTRIBUTE CONTENTIOUS LANDS UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM OF PRESIDENT AQUINO. LANDHOLDINGS COVERING THIS MODE ARE GENERALLY CONTENTIOUS LANDS WHERE LANDOWNER RESISTANCE IS AT ITS STRONGEST. KAYA KAILANGAN COMPULSARY. PRO SINASABI KO KAY GARY -- DAPAT DAMON NATIN ANG COMPULSARY ACQUISITION. GAMITIN NATIN ANG EXPROPRIATION LAW AT HINDI LANG NATIN HINIHINTAY YUNG VOLUNTARY OFFERS OF SALE.

WITH LAND BANK DEVOTING ITSELF PRIMARILY TO SOURCING FUNDS FOR LAND REFORM, I HOPE THAT WITHIN THE DECADE, LAND REFORM CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED (ABOLISHED) AND THEREFORE THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY CAN BE WON.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, THE LAND BANK APPROVED PAYMENT FOR TOTAL LAND TRANSFER CLAIMS OF MORE THAN 17,000 HECTARES. THIS TRANSLATES TO LAND TRANSFER OUTPUT AMOUNTING TO P1.3 BILLION FOR THE PERIOD. MARAMING SALAMAT SA LANDBANK AT CONGRATULATIONS! AND IN CONGRATULATING YOU , I URGE YOU AND THE LAND BANK TO GO FOR AGAIN 100,00 HECTARES OF LAND DISTRIBUTION IN TANDEM WITH THE 100,000 THAT THE DENR HAS TO DO.

I ALSO CONGRATULATE THE LAND BANK BECAUSE AS MENTIONED BY GARY IN HIS SPEECH -- YOUR TOTAL CREDIT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION REACHED MORE THAN PI BILLION FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR. AND YOUR TOTAL LOAN RELEASES FOR SMALL FARMERS AND FISHER FOLKS WAS MORE THAN P6.4 BILLION DURING THIS PERIOD, CHANNELED THROUGH MORE THAN A THOUSAND COOPERATIVES AND ALMOST 400 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND BENEFITING MORE THAN 200,000 SMALL FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK, WHOM MY FATHER LOVED SO MUCH BECAUSE HE WAS ONE OF THEM.

NGAYON MABALIK AKO DOON SA PROGRAM NG TATAY KO, THE FOURTH AND FINAL COMPONENT OF HIS PROGRAM --WAS TO IMPROVE MORAL STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT AND IN SOCIETY.

IN THE END HIS REVOLUTION REMAINED UNFINISHED, POVERTY CONTINUES TO BE THE NATIONAL PROBLEM OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM, AND MUCH STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE MORAL STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT AND IN SOCIETY.

THE MISSION OF MY ADMINISTRATION IS TO CONTINUE HIS WORK, TO BRING NEW LIFE TO THE GREATEST NUMBER OF OUR PEOPLE UNDER A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC.

TWO ESSENTIAL FEATURES MARK OUT A STRONG REPUBLIC:

THE FIRST IS INDEPENDENCE FROM CLASS AND PECTORAL INTERESTS SO THAT IT STANDS FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN OF A POWERFUL MINORITY.

THE SECOND IS THE CAPACITY, REPRESENTED THROUGH STRONG INSTITUTIONS AND A STRONG BUREAUCRACY, TO EXECUTE GOOD POLICY AND DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES THE THINGS THAT ONLY GOVERNMENTS CAN DO.

THE LAND BANK CONTRIBUTES TO BOTH ESSENTIALS OF A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC. BY FINANCING LAND REFORM, THE LAND BANK STANDS FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE MASSES OF THE SMALL FARMERS, RATHER THAN OF A POWERFUL MINORITY IN THE LANDLORD CLASS. AT GAY NG SINASABI KO KAY GARY, MA ALONG PINANINDIGAN NATIN YUNG MGA MAHIHIRAP AT MALILIIT KAYSA YUNG MGA MALALAKAS AT MALALAKI KUNG PALAKASIN NATIN ANG COMPULSARY ACQUISITION KESA LAMANG UMAASA SA VOLUNTARY OFFER OF SALE.

SECONDLY, THE LANDBANK CAN REPRESENT THE MASSES EFFECTIVELY ONLY BY STAYING AS A STRONG INSTITUTION WITH A STRONG BUREAUCRACY.

THIS IS WHY I FEEL SAD, THAT AT A TIME WHEN THE BANK IS RIDING HIGH ON ITS STERLING ACHIEVEMENTS, IT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT TAINTED BY WHAT I HOPE IS A RARE INCIDENT OF GRAVE MISCONDUCT AND UNLAWFUL ACTS BY A SUSPECTED FEW WITHIN THE INSTITUTION.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE MAINLY BECAUSE SUCH HOPEFULLY RARE AND ISOLATED CASES OF MISCONDUCT AND CRIMINALITY TEND TO SMEAR THE NAME AND OF THE MAJORITY OF UPRIGHT, PROFESSIONAL AND DEDICATED WORKERS OF THE BANK, AS WELL AS THE GOOD NAME AND PRESTIGE OF THE INSTITUTION AS A WHOLE.

WE ARE DETERMINED TO GET AT THE ROOT OF THIS TAX DIVERSION CASE, WHICH INVOLVES THREE RELATED FELONIES: PLUNDER -- BECAUSE SO FAR WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS DIVERTED TAX PAYMENTS OF P200 MILLION AND STILL COUNTING, CONSPIRACY FOR TAX EVASION, AND MONEY LAUNDERING. BY GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE CASES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, RELATED BUT SEPARATE CASES, I TRUST THAT THE GOOD NAME OF THE INSTITUTION CAN BE CLEARED SO THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PROFESSIONALS IN THIS INSTITUTION -- THE LANDBANK CAN BE UNBURDENED OF THE WEIGHT UPON COLLECTIVE REPARATION.

I ASSURE YOU, THERE SHALL BE JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY.

SO FAR A BANK MANAGER, A CASHIER, AND A BANK MESSENGER HAVE BEEN CHARGED.

YESTERDAY, I ORDERED THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE ONCE AND FOR ALL WHETHER ACSA RAMIREZ, ONE OF THE TWO CASHIERS IN THE LAND BANK IN BINANGONAN DURING WHOSE TERMS 17 QUESTIONABLE TRANSACTIONS HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED AS NOT HAVING BEEN REPORTED BY CERTAIN OFFICERS REQUIRED BY LAW TO REPORT THEM, TO DETERMINE ONCE AND FOR ALL WHETHER SHE IS CULPABLE FOR VIOLATION OF THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW.

IF SHE IS CULPABLE, I ORDERED THE NBI TO FILE CHARGES IMMEDIATELY. AND IF SHE'S INNOCENT, I ORDERED THE NBI TO IMMEDIATELY CLEAR HER AS WELL. LET US NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED RUN ON THIS ISSUE. WE MUST MOVE ON WITH SPEEDY AND IMPARTIAL JUSTICE. BECAUSE MOST OF ALL, WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE LOFTY AIM OF THE LANDBANK WHICH IS SOCIAL AMELIORATION, ESPECIALLY THROUGH FINANCING LAND REFORM.

MALINAW ANG ATING HANGARIN SUGPUIN ANG KAHIRAPAN SA KANAYUNAN UPANG MAKAMIT ANG ISANG MATATAG AT MALAKAS NA REPUBLIKA. ALAM NAMAN NATING LAHAT NA HINDI ITO MAGAGAWA NINUMAN NANG NAG-IISA. KAYA, AKO AY LUBOS NA NAGPAPASALAMAT SA PAGKAKAROON NG GANITONG PAGKIKILALA SA MGA NATATANGING TAO AT GRUPO NA MALAKI ANG NAI-AMBAG SA PAGSULONG NG ATING LIPUNAN.

KAYA SA ATING MGA NAGWAGI, CONGRATULATIONS SA INYONG LAHAT. SA LANDBANK BILANG INSTITUSYON, CONGRATULATIONS DIN SA INYO. AT MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

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