Singapore-based Ascott group acquires Oakwood

Ear-Spies reported that Singapore-based Ascott Group has bought the Oakwood Premier hotel in Makati for P2.7 billion. The Ascott Group is one of the largest operators of serviced apartments with three brands under its aegis — Ascott, Somerset and Citadines. The multi-awarded Ascott Group is said to be the largest international operator of serviced apartments outside of the United States. The new owners had given assurances that the Oakwood staff would be retained, much to the relief of the jittery employees. Informants disclosed that the new management will formally take over by March 2007.

Extortionist NLRC officials

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended a commissioner and several lawyers of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in an entrapment operation in a hotel in Malate, Manila. The apprehension came after a businesswoman complained that the suspects were demanding P400,000 from her in exchange for a license to engage in labor recruitment. An alleged businessman accomplice of the NLRC officials had also been nabbed during the entrapment operation, with the suspects caught accepting some P200,000 in marked money as "initial payment." Labor leader Ernesto Herrera has urged the Ombudsman to suspend these officials and subject them to lifestyle checks. The suspects are now all out on bail following the filing of direct bribery charges against them. Herrera has also urged the NLRC chairman to order a review of all the cases handled by the said commissioner and his subordinates, imputing that the decisions could now be suspect. The

NLRC is structurally unique in the sense that its decisions in labor disputes may only be appealed to the Supreme Court on questions of law. It has been the subject of complaints both by employees and employers due to alleged partiality in the handling of cases by corrupt labor arbiters.

Lower remittance fees for Hong Kong OFWs

The plan of telecom service providers to launch a remittance facility that would allow OFWs based in Hong Kong for as low as HK$1 is expected to benefit some 153,000 overseas workers and their families. Last year, a total of $519 million was spent by OFWs for remittance charges alone, equal to almost 5 percent of the $10.7 billion remittance received through formal channels, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said. The move was hailed by Cogressman Eduardo Gullas, who had been pushing for a $1 all-in universal remittance fee, who said the extra money that local banks and remittance service providers have been getting should go to the pockets of the OFWs and their families. A study by the World Bank disclosed that almost all Filipino workers based in Hong Kong remit at least once a month, sending an average of $268 or P13,300 per transaction. BSP statistics have also shown that money transfers from Hong Kong OFWs account for more than three percent of all remittances received by the Philippines yearly.

Marcos family feud

The Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte is said to be doing well with the late Dr. Pacifico Marcos’ son Mariano Marcos II at the helm of the port’s official cargo handler, Aurum Pacific Consolidated Inc. The Philippine Ports Authority is planning to build a better passenger terminal in its Currimao facility, which could potentially transform the area into a hub for cruise ships. The port is also set to receive close to P100 million as infrastructure support from government. Informants however reported about an impending Ilocano family feud because it looks like Mark Lau — the Singaporean boyfriend of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos — who is also known as Mark Chua, has taken an interest in the port business. To qualify, he may however have to change his name to Mark Marcos.

Spy tidbiz: Still popular

The upscale Antonio’s restaurant in Tagaytay continues to be a popular restaurant known for its rustic ambience and excellent food. People still take the almost two-hour drive from Manila to dine, despite reports from Spybiz informants that chef-owner Tony Boy Escalante after whom the resto is named, has separated from his wife, the former Agnes Hechanova whose family happens to own the sprawling property in Tagaytay.

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