Pretty scary

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling against the computerization of the 2004 elections has once again scared the wits out of foreign investors.

Hardly have they recovered from the effects of the SC’s decision declaring the Cyberbay-reclaimed property as belonging to the public domain and therefore cannot be alienated when the High Tribunal’s ruling went public.

What’s so scary about these Supreme Court rulings? These decisions are basically saying that no investment is safe in this country.

One lawyer-friend suggested that a committee should be established that should make sure that before a project goes ahead, it has secured all the necessary clearances, including from the Department of Justice (one that says that there is no legal impediment to the project).

Fact or fiction?

Local telecommunications companies are getting worried about persistent rumors that two Philippine telcos are going to testify against their fellow local carriers in the anti-trust case being prepared against RP telcos, in exchange for immunity.

While the rest have hired US-based counsels to prepare their defense and submissions in the Honolulu grand jury investigation and in preparation for a perceived tough legal battle head, two local firms have hired a common Filipino lawyer to present their case. Even early on, the other telcos have been suspecting that these two firms have been in cahoots with the American telcos.

Let us just hope, though, that the rumors are baseless. These companies after all are owned by honorable gentlemen and I believe that they will not go for this. After all, this is going to be a difficult case to win, not because our carriers are guilty, but because they are already presumed to be. They will be tried in an American court, before an American judge and jury, in a case which serves to protect the interest of American business. The Philippine telecommunications industry should fight this fight as a group.

What’s in store for NTC?

President Arroyo has just appointed a new commissioner for the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in the person of Ronald Solis, Class ’85 of the UP College of Law and a Sigma Rhoan.

Former NTC chief Armi Jane Borje still cannot believe that she has just been unceremoniously ousted from her position. Rumors are that her being a protegee of Brother Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord Movement was taken against her, the very same reason why she got the position in the first place.

With the difficult position the industry is in right now, Solis should prove to all and sundry that he got the post not because of the right connections but because he deserved it.

For comments, e-mail at rmaryannl@yahoo.com