This is a blog entry of ABS-CBN's Maiki Oreta who covers business issues in the Philippines. Her blog, titled Business Banter, is her platform to share viewpoints, insights and intelligent rumors culled in between her formal coverages, as well as from coffee shop talks, boardroom buzz, and other sources.

There is so much being asked of P-Noy.

For one, he’s being asked to right a huge social injustice, one that previous administrations, including that of his own mother’s, were unable to rectify.

This is the issue of the coco levy fund.

During the martial law years, coconut farmers had to pay a certain levy for their produce. The tax, which, totaled Php 9.7 billion pesos at that time, was supposed to be used toward the creation of an investment fund for coconut farmers.

However, instead of going where it was supposed to go, like many funds in the Philippines, it magically disappeared.

More so, it was said to have been swindled by those in power. (Nothing new there.)

Marcos cronies led by businessman Eduardo Cojuanco, then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Maria Clara Lobregat (then incumbent Mayor of Zamboanga City in Mindanao), with the blessing of then President Marcos, allegedly colluded, and together, embezzled billions of pesos in levies from the coconut farmers.

How so? By using share certificates, presidential decrees, and savvy corporate lawyering, the funds were spent, assets were acquired, and not a single coconut farmer benefitted.

Fast forward to present day, and the issue is still raw. The wounds have never healed nor the money returned.

The assets of the fund however, are said to have ballooned to a whopping P120–P130 billion.

Most of these assets are, said to be in the form of shares in the country's largest food and beverage conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation.

It’s a case of social injustice of mammoth proportions.

Will P-Noy have the will and the might to pull the rug out from under the well polished heals of some of the country’s top business scions, (mind you, one of which, is own uncle Danding Cojuanco)…

And even after that, will he actually be able to recover and convert the funds, which have been invested and reinvested over the years.

Hopes are high, but only time will tell.