Rejoinder to column ‘The truth about the Subic waste brouhaha’

Setting the records straight — Re: Article in you newspaper entitled “The truth about the Subic waste brouhaha” written by William Esposo.

We are the counsel for Global Terminals and Development, Inc. (GTI), and for Ms. Rose Baldeo.

The aforementioned article portrayed our clients in a very bad light, and there appears a need to set the record straight in order that the public may not be misled.

Accordingly allow us to point out the following, in clarification of the inaccurate and apparent false information contained in the subject article.

• On the cast of characters mentioned by Mr. Esposo: First of all, Ms. Rose Baldeo is not the complainant in the recent alleged waste dumping issue by Glenn Defense Marine Asia. The issue was brought to the attention of the SBMA Board by the SBMA Ecology Center. As far as the rules are concerned, there are no private complainants on this issue.

Global Terminals and Development Incorporated (GTI) never bid for the US Navy contract. GTI is in the business of port operations, development and industrial leasing. GTIs contract with the SBMA includes the development and management of the former US Navy Ship Repair Facility (SRF), now called Global Industrial Park. The 17,177 hectare land is home to several business locators and employs 1,174 from Olongapo, Zambales, Bataan, and Manila and from some parts of Northern Luzon.

GTI’s facility is the area where all US Navy vessels dock and where services are being provided for by port users, including Glenn Defense.

• On Item I of the scheme as mentioned by Mr. Esposo: Jay Mendoza of GTI never made a “Hazard Call”, this issue has long been clarified by SBMA Chairman Robert V. Garcia, during press conferences and during the Senate Hearing last Nov. 21, 2012. It was Mr. Anthony Bayanong who made the call to the SBMA Ecology Center reporting an alleged oil spill.

• On Item 2 of the scheme as mentioned by Mr. Esposo: Mr. Bayanong sought the assistance of Mr. Mendoza in securing a boat because the SBMA Ecology Center does not have a boat to respond to the oil spill call. The boat was channeled through the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce’s (SBFCC) inventory of equipment for emergencies, calamities and environmental concerns.

As to the inaccurate statement of Mr. Esposo pertaining to complications brought about by the issue of waste dumping such as the VFA and anti-American sentiments, let it be reminded that the VFA was dragged into this issue simply because the lawyers of Glenn Defense (CVC Law), responded to the SBMA Ecology Center’s “show cause” letter with a 3/4 inch thick reply in which it invoked that it is a part of VFA and that SBMA has no jurisdiction over this issue. Page after page, Glenn Defense never bothered to answer the actual issues raised by the SBMA Ecology Center, it simply said that it is part of the VFA. That was when the uproar began. Had Glenn Defense simply addressed the actual issues, the VFA would not have been dragged in the issue.

For all intents and purposes, if the VFA is being criticized and if anti-American sentiments have been brought up, that is not the fault of SBMA, not the fault of the media and certainly not the fault of Jay Mendoza and GTI, but simply the result of Glenn Marine’s actions and the letter its lawyers at CVC law sent to the SBMA Ecology Center.

We hope you would see the propriety of setting the record straight on the matter. — Lawyers AQUILINO SALVADOR JR. and LODELBERTO S. PARUNGAO, Salvador and Parungao Law Firm