Max Soliven: The Man and the Journalist

This coming Thursday, November 10, will be the book launching of Maximo V. Soliven: The Man and the Journalist. It took almost five years for Nelson Navarro and Max’s daughter Sarah Soliven de Guzman to put this book together. Now friends and loyal readers of “Sir Max” will have the opportunity to get to know the man behind the hard-hitting columns, with behind-the-scenes accounts on a number of significant episodes in our country’s history. Max who personally knew most of the 15 Philippine presidents had the distinct advantage of knowing about critical developments even before they unfold in the public’s perception. On several occasions, many of us close friends of Max would suggest that he write his life story but he would always decline, saying he’d rather have other people take up the challenge. Actually, one of Max’s close hermanos, Pepe Rodriguez, offered to write his authorized biography but Max never really gave it serious thought.

There was really only one Max, and I say this not because he was a close friend but because he had that certain character that drew people to him, aside from the fact that he had a great sense of humor. His knowledge on world history and politics was impressive, and the journalist in him reflected this in his writings so rich with information culled from his readings, travels and personal experiences, having rubbed elbows with so many powerful people who helped shape the history not only of the Philippines but other parts of the world.

If there is one thing Max would always tell me, it is that there is nothing like the power of knowledge and how this would help in writing a column. It is no surprise he was a voracious reader, read not only by his loyal fans but I bet even by those who had the misfortune to be the subject of his writings — like the former German Ambassador to the Philippines Wolfgang Göttelman who made the crucial mistake of being on the wrong side of the fence. Gottelman eventually had to leave the Philippines after Max incessantly wrote about him and his country’s history.

More than just the story of Max, the young people of today can learn a lot just by reading his biography and his insights. To Nelson and Sarah — well done!

*      *       *

Many businessmen have complained about the slow decisions being made by many of P-Noy’s Cabinet secretaries. For instance, the decision on the case of former president and now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo whose request for an Allow Departure Order (ADO) is taking longer than usual.

A simple “yes” or “no” for this case is all that is needed but the DOJ is being overly cautious. The fact is, a lot of text messages are going around calling the DOJ chief as “Justice Delay-ma” for deferring her decision until after she comes back from her trip to Cambodia. It’s obvious the Aquino Administration does not trust the former president and if that’s the case, then perhaps they should just say so. Or maybe they can send a DOJ Marshall (if there is such an official) to escort Mrs. Arroyo during her trip abroad. Or better yet, the DOJ can shoulder the expenses and just bring in the medical specialist who can look at the condition of GMA without her leaving the country.

But as usual, rumors are already floating that “President Noy knows GMA is faking her condition and plans to hide in the Dominican Republic under asylum, and that P-Noy will announce on Tuesday that the government has already decided not to allow GMA to leave the country,” or so the text message goes. The fact of the matter is, no high profile person like former president GMA can hide anywhere around the world. After all, this has become such a high tech world and even in countries where we have no extradition treaty, it would be relatively easy to locate someone whose identity is well known — with the long arm of the law eventually catching up. For us, there are only two countries with which one should not burn bridges: One is your own country and the other is the United States of America which can find the proverbial needle in a haystack like what happened to Osama bin Laden.

Secretary de Lima may see no immediate need for GMA to leave the country but the GMA camp says this is a constitutional violation. Even allies of President Noy like Chiz Escudero and Frank Drilon say that the power to issue hold departure orders is vested only in the courts, not the DOJ, pointing out that a watch list order has the effect of a hold departure order — which is tantamount to a violation of a person’s constitutional right to travel.

If indeed GMA’s condition may not be life threatening, there are potentially serious complications to hypoparathyroidism that may include paralysis — in which case, there may be no more case to file, is there? This “analysis paralysis” is not good for all parties which is why the DOJ should not dilly-dally on an issue where a decision can be made in a couple of days — not weeks. Arroyo allies’ only recourse is to file a case before the Supreme Court and find out whether the travel ban imposed by the DOJ is constitutional or not. Whichever way it is, there is really nowhere to run for former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and she knows that only too well. She just wants to get well and be ready to face the music.

*      *       *

E-mail: [email protected]