A cherished institution that must be protected

Whatever one’s personal feelings might be on cases decided by the highest court of the land, any resolution of the Supreme Court must, in the end, always be respected. This cherished institution is a major bulwark of democracy, and its integrity must be kept untarnished.

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Right now, the Supreme Court is deliberating the constitutionality of the anti-plunder law. It is just possible that, whatever the High Court’s decision will be, there will be a lot of talk, pro or con, on the wisdom of the Court’s judgment. Concerned citizens hope that partisan feelings will be cast aside and that the people’s faith in the High Tribunal will not be shaken.

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Yesterday’s column about Transportation Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez and the PIATCO Contract drew some strong and negative reactions from various people. "No, it is not true that Alvarez had no hand in the forging of the PIATCO concession agreement as you wrote," they said. And they went on to enumerate how Alvarez in 1997, who was then assistant general manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, got involved in the contract.

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Critics said that Alvarez was a member of the committee that evaluated and approved the proposal from the Philippine Air Terminals Co. Inc. They added that as a congressman from 1998 onwards, Alvarez was a vice chairman of the House transport and communications committee which investigated the PIATCO Contract. And at the time the PIATCO agreement was being crafted, Alvarez was among the owners of Wintrack Builders Inc., which was appointed as PIATCO’s main contractor of the demolition and hauling of "subterranean structures."

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Those who violently reacted to yesterday’s column item agree that Alvarez is not the issue. The issue is the PIATCO Contract. They, however, blame Alvarez for focusing the issue on himself. How? By shunting aside criticisms of the PIATCO Contract as "black propaganda" against him aimed at blocking his confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

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What they want is for Alvarez to have the contract reviewed. This can be done, they explained, because the PIATCO agreement itself was reviewed and amended three times during the Estrada administration. If it was touched before, how can it not now be touched? Logical question.

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Two congressional resolutions have already been filed for the review of the PIATCO agreement – one by Senator Edgardo Angara, and the other by Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian. Moreover, the Angeles City Council unanimously approved a resolution urging the Commission on Appointments to reject Alvarez’s confirmation, on the ground that the DOTC headman is going to restrict the development of Clark International Airport.

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In the light of many objections to the PIATCO Contract, probably the wise course of action which the government should take is to review the concession agreement. Then, the government, through the DOTC or a special committee, can then evaluate the best step that can be taken to protect the interest of the general public.

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Last Thursday, October 13, a socially-oriented person in the public service, Atty. Gallant Soriano, who is the Director for Legal Service of the Bureau of Customs, celebrated his 40th birthday. Days before the happy event, he contacted me to say that he would ask his relatives and friends who will attend the birthday celebration at the AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse in Fort Aguinaldo, Quezon City, to make a donation, in lieu of gifts for him, to the Good Samaritan Foundation.

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Thanks a million to Director Soriano and his relatives and friends for their generosity and kindness. After the birthday party was over, the following were listed down as donors to the Good Samaritan Foundation:

Gallant & Nenette Soriano, P5,000
JR Rodil, P500
Christy and Jeng Ramos, P500
Janice Soriano, P500
Antonio Pabayo, P500
Katrina Lim, P500
Nena de Castro, P500
Ricardo Ong, P500
Mr. & Mrs. Butch Albarracin, P1,000
Bersamina Family, P1,000
Mr. & Mrs. Leo Catacutan, P1,000
Liberty Basilio, P1,000
Ellen Perena, P1,000
JV & Gina Bulatao, P1,000
Ryan de Castro, P1,000
Ruben Tiongco, P1,500
Douglas Soriano Family, P2,000
Atty. Enriquez, P2,000
Jose Obillos Jr., P2,000
Melisa Principe, P2,000

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On September 30, two prestigious non-profit, non-government organizations – Chosen Children Village Foundation and Abot Pangarap Foundation – are going to stage a "Merry Merchants Bazaar" at Hotel Intercontinental. The affair is quite significant because the profits from the sale of bazaar items are going to be used for two main purposes: first, to look after physically and mentally handicapped abandoned children now housed in Silang, Cavite, and second, to assist in the education of underprivileged children of St. Martin School in Baguio City.

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According to Charise Chuidian, the PR lady par excellence of Mandarin Oriental Manila, the Sunday Bazaar will open at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at Intercon or may be obtained through Cecile at Tel. Nos. 832-1546 and 831-3627. This is a bazaar for a lofty cause, and all Christian-hearted persons are encouraged to participate in going after the many unique, exclusive and attractive items that are not commercially available.

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Thoughts For Today:

Good people are like the wind.
You can’t see what’s inside their hearts,
but you can always feel
their warmth and sincerity.
Thanks for being a wind in our lives

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Humble work becomes holy work
when it’s done for God.
May your day be filled with joy
and opportunities to do great things for Him.

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My e-mail address: <[email protected]>.