MALACAÑANG is hoping that the planned House probe on the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) toll fee would focus on the merits of the issue and not be politicized just because it involves a relative of President Aquino.

Ramon Carandang, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (Secretary, said questions about the legality of the P20-toll fee collected by HLI on those using the Luisita Parkway Road is “really a regulatory issue.”

“Let’s evaluate this issue on the merits. The fact that the road is where it is and it’s owned by who owns it, tends to make it a political issue...I would hope that whatever comes out of it is a decision on the merits and not on any political considerations,” Carandang said.

He said the fact that HLI is owned by the Cojuangco family, which includes Mr. Aquino’s family, makes it “very tempting to look at this from a political point of view.”

“But at the end of the day it really is a regulatory issue. We hope that whatever comes out of the House, there is some kind of enlightenment on what the regulatory issues are rather than simply connecting it to the relatives of the President,” Carandang said.

Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin Remulla of Cavite had claimed that the toll fee would be illegal if HLI did not secure a permit to charge it from the Toll Regulatory Board.

Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis had filed House Resolution 1329 calling on the House to conduct an inquiry on the toll fee collection.  --Mia Gonzalez