Philpost chief admits monkey business in POs

The monkey business in post offices cannot be ignored.

"I (admit) that there are kalokohans in post offices," Philpost General Manager Diomedio Villanueva told The STAR in a phone interview yesterday. This was why he said as soon as he assumed office a month ago, Villanueva said he sought a reorganization of the corporation to "strengthen its investigation and security arm."

Villanueva also said he would also order an investigation into the complaints of some local and foreign businessmen that their bank and credit card information, confidential documents, and correspondence had been intercepted at the Makati Post Office.

In his column yesterday, STAR publisher Max V. Soliven recounted how businessmen-friends lost thousands of dollars from their bank accounts allegedly to a member of a syndicate at the said post office. Their money, deposited in banks overseas and in different currencies, were stolen and transferred to banks in other countries.

"I cannot conclude (yet) if there is really a syndicate. This could also be carried out by an individual," Villanueva said when sought for comment.

As of press time, Makati Post Office postmaster Marino London, who was appointed last year, said in a phone interview that Villanueva had already sent Assistant Post Master General Felipe Hidalgo to obtain pertinent information about the incidents.

Villanueva said that when he assumed office, he immediately ordered the close monitoring of the Central Mail Exchange in Pasay City, where overseas mails are sent and received, and the foreign mail service division at the Philpost Main Office in Manila.

He described these two offices as "critical areas" where pilferage of mail is likely to take place.