Securing terror

Abdurahim Gustaham Arabani, a blue security guard assigned at the plush Pacific Plaza Towers in Bonifacio Global City where famous, not-so-famous and very famous personalities live, was arrested by the PNP recently in what was described as a “preemptive strike” to avert so-called “sympathy strikes” as a consequence of Bin Laden’s death. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) that conducted the arrest said that the security guard is believed to be no other than Imam Arabani Jakiran, an Abu Sayyaf terrorist involved in several high-profile kidnappings in 2001 including a hospital siege in Lamitan led by ASG leader Sahiron Hapilon. The Philippine government had offered a P350,000 reward for any information leading to Jakiran’s capture.

According to Spy Bits sources, the arrested guard was employed by the Men in Blue (MIB) security agency and has been working as a basement guard at the PP Towers since 2006. He was described as “quiet but reliable.” Arabani was arrested on the basis of “similarity of surname” and was flown to Zamboanga City to establish his true identity.

MIB is working with the CIDG operatives to determine whether the arrest of the guard is a case of mistaken identity and has also began revalidating the guards’ records and re-checking clearances issued by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame, barangay clearances and other documents submitted by their employees. The PPT administration also conducted inspections on the basements, roof decks, machine rooms and other areas to make sure that the building is free of any explosive materials, employing sniffing dogs and several bomb experts.

The security guard arrest is likely just the tip of the iceberg, with security agencies now tightening measures to carefully establish the identity of people they employ. There have been numerous reports about security guards being involved in kidnapping syndicates targeting the children of wealthy businessmen. Aside from security guards, employers should also be wary and careful about the real identity of housemaids, nannies and other household help. We received so many horror stories about maids from hell who turn out to be thieves or kidnappers working with criminal syndicates. Some of them even resort to poisoning to get their employers out of the house so they can ransack the place. Worse, these maids are referred by employment agencies that vouch for their integrity and identity without bothering if the personal information supplied by the maids are accurate and truthful. 

People are advised to be on the lookout for warning signs that the maids or guards they employ are up to something. Perhaps installing closed circuit TV cameras or CCTV would be helpful. Security experts warn that people should not just rely on clearances and other documents that could turn out to be fake. It is best to conduct actual verification and meticulously checking other references listed by the person to see whether he or she is actually known by the previous employer – always follow the old saying, “better paranoid than sorry.”

Teddy Boy confirms Danding’s SMC shares

In an article titled “The real score on Danding’s SMC shares” which came out in a magazine, former Cory spokesperson and speech writer Teddy Boy Locsin presents what he calls a “total recall” of the circumstances relative to the disputed 20-percent shares of former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco in San Miguel Corp. (which the Supreme Court has recently ruled to be legitimately acquired).

In what constitutes a tell-all, Teddy Boy recounts that a “plot has been hatched to buy Danding’s shares in San Miguel, as well as the Coco Levy shares,” with money coming from the sale of SMC’s Hong Kong brewery which smacked of impropriety, disclosing that “Makati Business Club people... had cooked up the deal to make Danding’s shares vanish into a holding company in Hong Kong, controlled no one knew by who, were outraged at my interference. But I got unexpected backing from Jimmy Ongpin.” The former Manila Standard Today publisher and chief editor also recalled the disgust of Ramon Diaz, then with the PCGG, about the intent of some people from “their side” to “steal from the other side.”

“Anyway, all of those who hatched the plot knew how Danding had acquired the shares from the Zobels; for among them were Danding’s own people. Jesus had only one Judas; Danding had a couple of them,” Teddy Boy wrote. In any case, the 20-percent shares of Cojuangco remained intact despite it having been sequestered – shares which ECJ “bought from the Zobels who sold out their 20 percent block in San Miguel after their failure to oust the Sorianos from over half a century of management control by holding the proxies of almost all the big... and small shareholders... The Zobels threw in the towel with the first failed attempt and sold it to Danding – I think out of pique at their cousins, the Sorianos,” he disclosed.

While Cojuangco may have borrowed “improperly” from UCPB as its CEO and director, the Zobel block was not bought with stolen money. Otherwise, why was the UCPB being penalized for having lent the money? Locsin also posited. “Danding owns the shares he bought with borrowed funds that he fully paid. This has nothing to do with the Coco Levy block of shares in San Miguel, which may well pertain to the 10 billionaire coconut oil millers who contributed not just the entire P10-billion Coco Levy fund as to the small coconut farmers who couldn’t come up with the tiny fraction (P167 million) that was their share. Those are the facts. The rest is fanciful speculation that has no place in law,” Teddy Boy concluded.

Spy tidbit

– Former US ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney who is now posted in Thailand quietly flew in last weekend to condole with the family of her former US Embassy driver who died in a motorcycle accident a couple of days ago.

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