Emotional Erap interview

Insiders revealed that when The Philippine STAR Publisher Max V. Soliven interviewed former President Estrada at his detention compound in Camp Capinpin, Erap started to tear and become very emotional during the last seven minutes of the program. The whole room was eerily quiet as everyone listened. Everyone from battle-hardened Max Soliven, the ANC TV crew, to the Sheriff were moved to tears. It was a highly-charged, emotional moment that presidential counselor David Gergen described as a "naked moment" in politics. It was a rare instance when people can see through the core of a public figure. They catch a crucial glimpse of someone’s character. There were no handlers around to aid him. He became highly emotional when he started to talk about his aging mother and how he wanted to clear his name before his mother dies. The interview’s emotional voltage matched the electrified fence that surrounded his detention compound. Everyone will be waiting for that interview tomorrow night at 8 p.m. on ANC-Channel 21.

Labor Vendetta At Subic

The Subic spyring reported that Mr. Jimmy Mendoza is organizing unions inside the Freeport Zone and that he is linked with WAR-III KMU, a radical organization. It was revealed that Mendoza formed the union in the Legend Resort Hotel. Mendoza and Mr. Edralino Cajudo were appointed to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Board of Directors. Both have links to the Olongapo City Hall. The two, however, have not been able to assume their positions because of the injunction issued by the Court of Appeals upon petition by the Directors being replaced. SBMA is facing quite a problem here. Its Labor Center reported that should the court lift the injunction, or should the terms of other Directors expire soon, it would have members sitting on the Board who would be fomenting labor unrest inside the Freeport. To aggravate the situation, MAKABAYAN, a new labor organizing group is trying to gain a foothold inside Subic. It is led by Atty. Atienza, an Olongapo City Councilor. Mendoza’s vendetta against the SBMA Board may just scare investors and locators away.

Good Neighbor Ping

Eyespies disclosed that Senator Lacson and senatorial candidate Jamby Madrigal have their campaign offices beside each other at PetPlans building along EDSA. Ms. Madrigal’s main work area is in a rented ground floor office right beside it. Ms. Winnie Monsod used to have her campaign HQ in the same spot during her 2001 senatorial run. Perhaps good neighbor Ping can give Jamby a helping hand. After all, her husband was formerly a police officer in France. The twist in this story is that that the landlord of both candidates is an FPJ supporter. This makes for a more exciting tale than Billy Wilder’s 1960s film "Good Neighbor Sam" with Jack Lemmon and Romy Schneider. As in sex, politics really makes for strange neighbors.

Cuisia Rejoinder

Philam President and CEO Joey Cuisia wrote our Business Editor Tony Katigbak to point out that "there is no truth to your writer’s allegation that Governor Buenaventura rebuked me." He referred to our March 4 piece on interest rates called "Old Dogs with Old Tricks". Cuisia explained that he hasn’t spoken to BSP Gov. Buenaventura for several months. "The last time I spoke to him was with regard to the BSP’s statement on their efforts to go after currency speculators," clarified Cuisia. He added: "For your information, Philamlife has substantial investments in long term government securities which were locked in at rates much higher than current rates and if interest rates were to be raised by the BSP, the value of these long term bonds will decline. Governor Buenaventura must be aware of this!" "So you say Joey," is all SA can say.

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