Reinvestigate this bogus Societé

Our eye-spy records reveal that it was former Finance Secretary Jesus Estanislao during the Aquino administration, who signed up Societé General de Surveillance (SGS) to handle the Bureau of Customs contract despite the fact that it was Bureau Veritas that won the bidding. For a long period, local industries lost billions of dollars in revenue because SGS demanded outrageous fees from manufacturing companies, causing numerous delays in production and delivery of goods. Government also lost billions of dollars and this mercenary company even to this very day, is still trying to collect money from government. In fact, according to our eye-spy records, the Pakistani government sued SGS for laundering money to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Even the government of Indonesia kicked out SGS from their country because they became one of the victims of SGS’ unscrupulous operations. The Senate should reopen this issue and investigate why the former finance chief insisted on pushing through with the SGS contract, in the first place.

Veny, Vidi, Bitchy

Eight members of the board of the biggest homeowners association this side of Asia (as represented by their former legal counsel) sent us an email to posit a very sarcastic disavowal to the report of our ear-spies that they are collecting "taxes" at the gates. The legal counsel said their so-called "fees" are legal on account that they are part and parcel of the association by-laws. However, according to our ear-spies, the collection of exorbitant fees –"taxes at the gates" – has no legal leg to stand on, and have been considered illegal by both Congress and the HLURB on previous decisions. Since it’s illegal, the new president refused to follow the by-laws regarding collection of fees. Notwithstanding this, the eight members of the board are still trying to coerce the new president – under a threat of suspension and TRO – to resume collection at the gates. But the new president has not, and will not budge. According to our ear-spies, many of the eight board members are actually living off on the financial sap they could squeeze from the association since they have no other means of livelihood to boast about. What is more disturbing in this scenario is that these board members actually got a favorable decision from the HLURB to TRO the new president – despite a previous decision by the same agency that says it’s illegal to collect fees! To all you lawyers out there, what is the punishment for forcing someone, under threat of any kind, to do an illegal act?

Getting Away With ‘Corporate Murder’

Who is this guy (a stockholder of ASB Group of Companies) who seemed to have run off with P5.230 billion in cash advances from the said firm? According to our ear-spies, this guy and other responsible officers of ASB Group of Companies have not submitted any verified explanation and accounting of the advances made from the said firm, specifically mentioning the nature and status of the advances, and its specific application despite the October 2002 deadline of the Rehabilitation Receiver. Our ear-spies said, if these advances were not recovered, this would seriously impair the rehabilitation plan of ASB Group of Companies. This guy is getting away with "corporate murder" and what are responsible government agencies doing about it? Hello?

Angel In Washington

Our very reliable ear-spy in Washington D.C. just received word that former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes will be the country’s next ambassador to Washington. He’s meeting the Okinawa Governor for breakfast today to boost RP-Japan security trilaterals vis-a-vis aviation projects. Being an Am-boy, the Americans will be more than happy to welcome Angie in Washington.

Attention Seeker

According to our ear-spies, this congresswoman is sour-graping and is always trying to get the attention of the United States. She recently said that US President Bush is flying to Manila and spending millions of dollars of American taxpayers money just to endorse GMA as a candidate for the 2004 national elections. Nice try. Historical records reveal she has a lot to be bitter about the United States, and that’s why she continues to take cheap shots at the US.

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