MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Pia Cayetano on Friday expressed outrage over reports that Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. allegedly offered a P400-million contract to a municipal mayor in Misamis Oriental, in exchange for a reversal of his order stopping the construction of a $2-billion shipyard which still hasn't secured the necessary permits.
"I am outraged to hear that Hanjin offered such favor to the local official to allow them to continue construction even without first securing a municipal building permit and environmental compliance certificate (ECC), among others. These are basic requirements under the law, regardless of whether you're a local or foreign investor," said Cayetano.
Cayetano was referring to the recent revelation made by Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano about the P400-million contract offered to him by Hanjin.
However, the senator said is that what is more deplorable is President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's reaction to Emano's claims that Hanjin offered him a multi-million contract.
"But what I found more revealing is when President Arroyo even scolded Mayor Emano [last Wednesday in Cagaytan de Oro City] for standing his ground, even if he only acted in accordance with his duties as an elected public official. The President also allegedly ignored him when he reported the matter about Hanjin's offer," Cayetano said.
"If these reports are true, then there are clearly three disturbing trends here. The first points to a trend showing Hanjin's utter refusal to abide by our laws, as it has been involved in a similar controversy in Subic. Second is government's apparent tolerance of violations of national and environmental laws allegedly committed by this investor. And the third, and most disturbing, is the President playing deaf and dumb again on what could possibly be another bribery attempt brought to her attention," she added.
Cayetano noted that Hanjin is also under fire by environmentalists for constructing two condominiums beginning January 2007 inside the protected Subic forest reserve without an ECC.
Hanjin applied for an ECC only in March 2007 and was granted the same by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in July 2007. By then, Hanjin's 22-storey condominium was already eight floors high, while the 12-storey condominium was already four floors high.
On the other hand, Cayetano said President Arroyo likewise ignored former NEDA chief Romulo Neri's report that he was offered a P200-million bribe by former Comelec Commissioner Benjamin Abalos in exchange for NEDA's approval of the national broadband network contract with ZTE Corp.
Hanjin had planned to operate a $2 billion shipyard that would extend from Tagoloan town to Villanueva in Misamis Oriental. Its training center alone would occupy eight hectares, while the planned shipyard would be on a 70-hectare property in Tagoloan and on a 400-hectare property in Villanueva.
"We should send a clear message to investors that they are welcome but they must abide by our laws. If they do not want to follow our laws then they should leave our country," Cayetano said. - GMANews.TV
"I am outraged to hear that Hanjin offered such favor to the local official to allow them to continue construction even without first securing a municipal building permit and environmental compliance certificate (ECC), among others. These are basic requirements under the law, regardless of whether you're a local or foreign investor," said Cayetano.
Cayetano was referring to the recent revelation made by Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano about the P400-million contract offered to him by Hanjin.
However, the senator said is that what is more deplorable is President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's reaction to Emano's claims that Hanjin offered him a multi-million contract.
"But what I found more revealing is when President Arroyo even scolded Mayor Emano [last Wednesday in Cagaytan de Oro City] for standing his ground, even if he only acted in accordance with his duties as an elected public official. The President also allegedly ignored him when he reported the matter about Hanjin's offer," Cayetano said.
"If these reports are true, then there are clearly three disturbing trends here. The first points to a trend showing Hanjin's utter refusal to abide by our laws, as it has been involved in a similar controversy in Subic. Second is government's apparent tolerance of violations of national and environmental laws allegedly committed by this investor. And the third, and most disturbing, is the President playing deaf and dumb again on what could possibly be another bribery attempt brought to her attention," she added.
Cayetano noted that Hanjin is also under fire by environmentalists for constructing two condominiums beginning January 2007 inside the protected Subic forest reserve without an ECC.
Hanjin applied for an ECC only in March 2007 and was granted the same by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in July 2007. By then, Hanjin's 22-storey condominium was already eight floors high, while the 12-storey condominium was already four floors high.
On the other hand, Cayetano said President Arroyo likewise ignored former NEDA chief Romulo Neri's report that he was offered a P200-million bribe by former Comelec Commissioner Benjamin Abalos in exchange for NEDA's approval of the national broadband network contract with ZTE Corp.
Hanjin had planned to operate a $2 billion shipyard that would extend from Tagoloan town to Villanueva in Misamis Oriental. Its training center alone would occupy eight hectares, while the planned shipyard would be on a 70-hectare property in Tagoloan and on a 400-hectare property in Villanueva.
"We should send a clear message to investors that they are welcome but they must abide by our laws. If they do not want to follow our laws then they should leave our country," Cayetano said. - GMANews.TV
No comments:
Post a Comment