Siy family feud keenly watched

Chinese-Filipino families are closely watching the developments in the ongoing feud among the siblings of the late textile tycoon Ramon Siy Lai due to its far-reaching implications.

The feuding family members are Bernadine T. Siy with brothers Frederick and Wilfred Siy on one hand and George T. Siy with sisters Jacqueline Siy-Share and Jacqueline Siy-Feichter on the other hand.

The family feud, which has spawned numerous court suits that include a charge of falsification of public documents, has been sparked by what observers said is the brazen attempt of one faction to control the family businesses.

Elders in the Chinese-Filipino community say the sibling feud could have been averted if greed were not allowed to rear its ugly head.

Included in the wrangling are the Kenny Rogers, Seattle’s Best, and Popeyes chains, Jag jeans maker, Fil-Pacific Apparel and realty firms.

Relatives of the Siys are said to be doing their best to allow for the eventual amicable settlement of the feud. One Chinese-Filipino elder said that disruptions in the family businesses should not be allowed. "There should be harmony," one Chinese-Filipino banker said.

The feud has resulted in a landmark case of falsification of public documents and perjury brought by the George group against the Bernadine group for the use of registry notices for the supposed holding of several stockholders meetings for the various Siy companies.

In a suit filed before the Parañaque city prosecutor’s office, the George group said that the Bernadine group made it appear that it sent notices for a purported special stockholders’ meeting of the family’s numerous firms.

The George group attached to the falsification charges a certification from the Fort Bonifacio acting postmaster general Amabel P. Oliquino that said "as per verification from our records, the attached matters were not mailed in this office."

Oliquino also said that the "postmark used" is not the genuine postmark of our office. The post office head included in the certification the genuine postmark of the office.