Francisco Motor to elevate its case to Malacañang

Francisco Motor Corp. (FMC) will elevate its case against Mazda Motor of Japan and Ford Motor Co. Philippines Inc. (FMCPI) to Malacañang, FMC senior assistant vice president Roland Francisco disclosed yesterday.

"FMC has decided to appeal its case to Malacañang as the Board of Investments (BOI) appears to be indifferent to FMC’s dispute with Mazda and complaint against FMCPI," Francisco said.

Sources said FMC is disappointed over the BOI’s recent decision allowing FMCPI to assemble the Ranger Model and, at the same time, remain neutral in the dispute between FMC and Mazda.

FMC said its dispute with Mazda should be resolved "once and for all and the only way to do so would be to appeal to Malacañang."

Because of FMC’s dispute with Mazda, FMCPI has also been dragged into the case.

BOI managing head Gregory Domingo said the BOI board decided in October last year to allow Ford to assemble the Ranger model locally.

On the still unresolved dispute between FMC and Mazda, Domingo said, "the BOI would like to maintain an arm’s length policy regarding that."

FMC originally had the authority to assemble the B25 pick-up model of Ford which, according to FMC, is also the same platform as the Ranger pick-up model.

The authority was granted to FMC by Mazda, which is 33 percent owned by Ford Motor Co. of the US.

FMC authorization was valid up to October this year.