How do you solve that problem like Quirante?

If you go to Dumanjug and ask around about Engr. Alan Quirante, everyone will tell you he’s a very good man. Why is he now in a problematic situation?

Allan is humble, soft-spoken, helpful, and very easy to deal with. I never met him but my siblings told me we have the same baptismal godparents, and that he’s distantly related to us, from the Quirante line in Dumanjug. Before this flood control imbroglio, I never heard anything derogatory about him and his business. The Dumanjuganons would tell you he never did anything wrong or harmful to anyone. He donated a lot to the Church and helped many people. So why is he in hot water now?

Well, perhaps, he went with the wrong people who might have "used" him in the flood-control fiasco. Allan started from rags and ended in riches, and people couldn’t just comprehend how he transformed a single proprietorship with a very low capital into a multi-billion conglomerate. Envious people raised their eyebrows at how a small building supply store in Dumanjug grew by leaps and bounds in less than 10 years. People couldn’t grasp how a barrio lad could buy a helicopter.

Perhaps, his greatest talent is his charisma and ability to befriend government officials with much power and high influence. VIPs like the Garcias, Calderons, Lagons, Gullases, Ramas, Ouanos, Chans (well, they are close blood relatives) and some DPWH officials. When his son married a beauty queen from Argao, the grand ballroom of a five-star hotel was filled to the brim.

A number of important personalities in government and society were there. I know, as I was in the lobby, having checked into the same hotel then. There is nothing wrong with that. It’s the right of every person to show that the Quirantes from Dumanjug have arrived. And we Dumanjuganons should be proud that he amassed such immense wealth and influence.

Now that it has been revealed that QM Builders, Quirante Construction, as well as QG Development Corp., and Adamant Development Corp. have allegedly cornered multi-billion government projects, including questionable ones, envious people imagined some conspiracy theories and unholy alliances. Since I know Alan I don’t believe he has done anything wrong. However, the walls have ears and the wags have wings.

Someone showed me his son’s wedding invitation where the wedding sponsors included an incumbent senator (member of the Blue Ribbon) and his wife, also a congresswoman. Also a former senator and world boxing champion and his wife, a former vice governor. Another pair are a party-list congressman with his wife, also a member of the House representing the smallest district in the province.

Another set of sponsors is a current congressman (Alan's uncle from Dumanjug) and a city mayor with his wife, now the city mayor. Another is an incumbent congressman of an independent city and his wife. Another is a congressman from the south and some other politicians. Other guests included government officials from the Executive department. There’s nothing wrong with all these. But other people have other paradigms.

When I got married in 1978, my ninongs included then Governor Eddie Gullas and former governor Kikoy Remotigue, who was from Ronda and Argao, plus many other mayors and regional directors. When I was promoted undersecretary, somebody complained with the Ombudsman attaching a copy of my wedding invitation. But I was exonerated. Nothing wrong, albeit we need to be beyond reproach. Alan should make sure his projects are all in order. Secretary Vince Dizon is coming unannounced and he will go to Malabuyoc, Ronda, and Dumanjug. Santa Claus is coming to town and will see who’s naughty or nice.

The problem with Alan Quirante is that he’s very, very successful, and people cannot help but be envious of him. His greatest problem though is that he needs to answer a lot of questions that the Independent Commission on Infrastructure and perhaps the DOJ may soon be asking him. He needs a really good lawyer because he seemed not to be very articulate when he first appeared before Senator Marcoleta in the Blue Ribbon Committee. The bigwigs who "used" him are now distancing themselves.

Knowing him to be a good man, I say: You cannot put a good man down. Not even with the hammer of Marcoleta. Nonetheless, nowadays, Alan needs help. And he should prepare for a huge legal battle ahead. It could be long, hard, and very expensive.