Victims twice over

Whether you are a Kidnap victim, a MERALCO subscriber or a Filipino citizen, today’s headlines will certainly make you feel like you are a victim twice over.

Consider for instance the case of Mr. Lito Go a respected businessman in the City of Lipa. He was kidnapped about a month ago by two active members of the Philippine Marines and a close associate or supporter of a former official of the City of Lipa. Go eventually paid a million pesos but quickly reported the matter to the Lipa Police.

The kidnapping was certainly traumatic for Mr. Go and his family and at the same time caused so much embarrassment for Lipa City Mayor Oscar Gozos and his Police Department. As a result Police visibility became a priority as well as arresting the perpetuators of the crime. In less than a month, the Lipa Police finally captured the Marines who have been taken in by the Provost Marshall or some legal unit of the Marines.

The civilian gang member has been identified and presumably charged or will be arrested and charged. But even before this goes to court certain “backers” of this particular kidnapper have started sending feelers for Mr.Go to “forgive” or “ibalato na lang” as in not to press charges. The alleged broker is reportedly the son of a former politician.

In general this sort of thing happens when it involves petty crimes, crimes of passion, momentary anger or stupidity caused by alcohol. But when a crime involves selecting a victim, using force, using threat, causing trauma and danger just to get money, the crime becomes very intentional and personal.

Mr.Go could have suffered from a heart attack. His wife, his mother or other relations could have been physically injured as a consequence. Mr.Go could have been psychologically damaged by the experience or could have been killed in a cross fire between the police and kidnappers.

These are some of the things that the broker or brokers seemed to have failed to consider before carelessly or shamelessly attempting to intercede for their “Alalay” or ally. Because of this, the Go couple expressed their outrage. This as they say is adding insult to injury. Unlike other Tsinoy victims they are speaking out against this attempt of the ex-politician’s son whose reputation will most certainly be affected by his lack of wisdom.

On the other hand it was suggested that Mayor Oscar Gozos should connect with the victims. As the “political father” in Lipa victims and constituents would find strength in his compassion and reassurance that not only will the Police do their job but also that justice will be given. To Mayor Gozos and the Lipa Police: Well done!

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A clear and present danger

The present crisis confronting the managers of MERALCO is probably the worst they have ever encountered. Most organizations are able to weather an external attack but when the attack comes from within and is very familiar with the internal defenses you could say that it’s equivalent to having a serious form of cancer. The cure is often just as worse as the disease.

Rather than be distracted by the theatrics and the rhetorics, it would serve us well to observe, study and learn from the emerging corporate disaster called MERALCO.

First of all, I call it a disaster because the managers of MERALCO evidently did not learn a lesson from the past. History tells us that no less than two Presidents of the Republic have had very public differences and hostilities with MERALCO management as well as owners. Whether the issues or accusations back then were true or false may no longer be relevant, but past corporate liability and vulnerability dictates that managers fix the problem or strengthen the company.

Unfortunately, “righteous restoration” of ownership through People Power seemed to have dulled the minds of owners and managers and encouraged a mind set of being impervious or indifferent to an ever increasing if not boiling discontent and a gathering of questions and challenges that went largely ignored.

Rather than being transparent and educating consumers, MERALCO has hid behind PRIVILEGE and Legislation. Legislation and the privilege it provides can always be lobbied for as well as withdrawn. Rather than take responsibility for corporate decisions that may truly be necessary for profit, the Spin Doctors find it easier to act like catfish and squids to blur the issues by blaming others.

Meralco representatives trivialize questions and concerns about deposits on meters and connection fees by claiming it involves little amounts. If you are an ordinary below middle class consumer yes the value would be about 3 to 4 thousand only, but if you are middle class and above your installation and meter charges go from 15 to 50 thousand.

Even as a “talent” for the Lopez owned channel 2 I remember having to pay something like 30 to 45 thousand because of the estimated total potential load for my electric connection. I don’t recall ever getting interest payments for my “deposit”. That is the estafa that Secretary Raul Gonzalez was talking about.

When GSIS President Winston Garcia inquired about their Bahamas based insurance companies the managers publicly stated they would provide information if Garcia signed a confidentiality clause as well as a waiver for legal action. It’s almost equivalent to an admission of guilt!

 Even the issue about charges for systems losses, passing on or exemptions on income tax charges, and questions on conflict of interests has been stiff armed or belittled.

Now Miracle’s problems have come home to roost. But instead of responding with professionalism the response is to politicize the matter. That may have worked in the past but now they face individuals and a government equally savvy in the Board Room as well as in the back room. Meralco managers need only to study the lessons learned by other Corporations and Families in business.

Gokongwei, Cojuangco, Aquino, Lucio Tan, etc. One way or another it all catches up with you and the longer you avoid it, the more expensive it becomes. Because the public and the business sector are all very affected, a change of management and breaking up of controls is inevitable. Blaming someone for your mistake works at home but not at work.