Delgado impatience

A recent press conference by the Delgado family, the bereaved for the late Federico, was both a welcome development as it marked a sad turn of events. Finally, the public has seen the faces of the Delgado siblings and heard their reaction to the developments in the investigation into Federico’s death.

Two aspects of the coming-out activity, however, were rather unfortunate. The first is the impression created by a Delgado press statement urging the Department of Justice panel to speed up the investigation into Federico’s death. Our media friends covering the case point out that the DOJ panel had nothing to do with the perception by the Delgado family that the investigation is not moving fast enough. The pace of the entire case, they underscore, is dependent on one man: police investigator Alex Yanquiling.

Recall that the DOJ panel had to reset a number of hearings because Yanquiling failed to submit all the required documents. Understandably, the DOJ panel needs to base its resolution of the investigation on solid facts and hard evidence.

Another aspect marked the sad turn of events.The Delgados reportedly insinuated that the late former First Lady Vicky Quirino-Delgado had mishandled millions of pesos worth of properties belonging to her second husband, Don Francisco Delgado.

Media quoted the Delgado siblings as insinuating that Don Francisco had lent more than P100 million worth of properties to the late former first lady which the siblings now vow to recover.

The sad thing is that the late former First Lady is no longer around to defend herself against the accusation. Perhaps, Don Francisco himself could shed light on this allegation.

The only defense available to Vicky at this point is the memory that this country has cherished about our one and only “Teen-age First Lady”. It will be recalled that she had to assume the role of First Lady since her late father, former President Elpidio Quirino, assumed office as a widow.

Vicky was a reluctant First Lady, but eventually performed her role with élan, elegance and finesse, earning for herself the admiration of monarchs, heads of state and of her own countrymen. We hope that memory is not unnecessarily damaged by the Delgado media blitz.

A General’s story

Many were impressed by Southern Luzon Command’s Lt. Gen. Alexander B. Yano’s deep understanding of the soldier’s role in a country that has struggled to bring peace to the countryside for decades. I heard him speak with passion on how winning the grassroots is more than half the battle.

This Philippine Military Academy graduate (class of 1976) has undergone extensive military schooling both here and abroad, particularly the United States. Indeed, Yano’s distinguished military career is an exceptional combination of leadership and vision, and competence in both garrison and field operations. From the trenches of Mindanao and the mountains of Northern Luzon, and now as head of the Southern Luzon Command, Yano lived and fought with his soldiers.

And yet, he understands that battles are not just fought and won with arms. This well-spoken soldier was also later appointed commanding general of the Civil Relations Service and spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  Having made the rounds in the military service, his excellent credentials and reputation has earned him the respect not only of his military peers but of the people he has tried to serve well, as a soldier, as a public servant. We need more like him.

Open-shut case

Gonzalo Co now faces the very same documents he signed under oath as chairman or president of Green Cross Inc. The documents showed that he had sold all his shares in GCI to his parents and siblings and that he had assigned the brands to the company in the early ’70s.

In short, he has zero claim against the company. He sold when the company was still struggling and had a lot of debts. His siblings, led by Anthony, and nephews and nieces, made the company what it is today.

These were among the documents that Anthony et al had submitted to the DOJ in a rejoinder-affidavit to disprove Gonzalo’s claim that he was the real owner of the shares that were registered in his mother’s and siblings’ names upon the company’s incorporation. 

While Anthony et al came out with tons of documents, observers note that Gonzalo had nothing except “self-serving statements.”

In their affidavit, Anthony et al said it was their mother and their siblings who paid for their own shares and that they “at all times exercised all rights of ownership over those shares, with the knowledge and even participation of Gonzalo – receiving dividends, voting the shares, and selling the shares.”

The affidavit said the P67,000 Gonzalo paid was only enough for his 1,000 shares valued at P100 each upon the company’s incorporation in 1971.

Estelito P. Mendoza, the lead counsel for Anthony and his group, said: “The belated claims of Gonzalo expose an effort to get more money, albeit undeservingly and without basis, from the sales of his shares in Green Cross, Inc., which was a small and struggling debt-strapped company when he was divesting but has grown steadily through the years since then through the efforts of his siblings, nephews and nieces.”

It also labeled as “untrue” Gonzalo’s claim that his mother and sister had only five shares each, and a brother, 15 shares, and thus could not have donated or sold 100 shares each between 1974 and 1976.

It pointed out that the company’s incorporation papers, also signed by Gonzalo under oath, showed the mother and sister had 200 shares each, and the brother had 400 shares, at the time.

The affidavit said Gonzalo first went to the National Bureau of Investigation to allege estafa and falsification. After the NBI endorsed the complaint to the DOJ, Gonzalo shifted tone and was already talking about his claim against the company and his relatives.

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