Obet scores Peping on lockout row

Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chairman Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan yesterday insisted that the institutional lockout provision in Globe’s P100 million sponsorship contract with Philsoc should remain.

Pagdanganan was reacting to a statement by Philsoc vice chairman Jose "Peping" Cojuangco that potential sponsors of this year’s SEA Games should agree to a "no-lockout" policy in order to accommodate more.

Globe, through its chief executive officer Gerry Ablaza, and Philsoc, through Pagdanganan, sealed the P100 million sponsorship, which, sources said, indicates a clear lockout on the telecommunications industry.

The contract will be signed next week when Ablaza returns from a business trip in the United States.

After Globe made its commitment to Philsoc, Smart stepped into the picture and is close to sealing its own sponsorship contract with Philsoc. It’s Cojuangco, and not Pagdanganan, dealing with Smart CEO Manny Pangilinan.

Smart is reportedly offering a two-pronged sponsorship package that will surpass Globe’s P100 million call. But for Smart to do that, the lockout provision in the Globe contract should be lifted.

Here’s where Pagdanganan and Cojuangco disagree.

Pagdanganan explained that it was Philsoc marketing head Pete Cura, a Cojuangco nominee, who committed to Globe an institutional lockout, a provision that had the imprimatur of the executive board that includes Cojuangco.

"In fact the (Philsoc) board was ecstatic when Pete (Cura) reported to us that Globe had committed to the package presented," said Pagdanganan, stressing that Philsoc should therefore honor its commitments with Globe.

Pagdanganan noted that the marketing scheme of the Philsoc should be improved to accommodate all firms that will support the Nov. 27-Dec. 5 SEA Games. He has called for an executive board meeting next week.