Cayetano hits Hanjin on alleged bribery attempt
Sen. Pia Cayetano today criticized Korean investor Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. for allegedly offering 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 that had not secured the necessary permits.
At the same time, she expressed disgust over the report that Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano even caught the ire of President Arroyo for going against the project.
"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," Cayetano said.
"But what I found more revealing is when President Arroyo even scolded Mayor Emano (last Wednesday in Cagayan 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, Senate environment and natural resources committee chairperson, added.
Cayetano said an obvious trend regarding foreign-funded project was disturbing.
"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," Cayetano said.
She noted that Hanjin had been under fire 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.-- Aurea Calica, PhilStar
At the same time, she expressed disgust over the report that Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano even caught the ire of President Arroyo for going against the project.
"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," Cayetano said.
"But what I found more revealing is when President Arroyo even scolded Mayor Emano (last Wednesday in Cagayan 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, Senate environment and natural resources committee chairperson, added.
Cayetano said an obvious trend regarding foreign-funded project was disturbing.
"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," Cayetano said.
She noted that Hanjin had been under fire 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.-- Aurea Calica, PhilStar
Labels: bribery, ecc, environment, hanjin, misamis oriental
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
11:59 PM
2 Comments:
ignored by the president? i wonder if the president was made the same offer how many luxury motor vehicles and outlandish real estate schemes it would have afforded her. i saw a bumper sticker that read....WHAT WOULD NIXON DO?
By
Anonymous, at 5/03/2008 7:31 AM
The bribery attempt of Php 400 million by Hanjin to local officials in Misamis Oriental is hard to believe as Koreans are known to be "kuripot".
Pres. GMA is right in scolding local officials for not being "business-friendly' and for hindering the establishment of a big investment project like this.
If we want foreign investments to come in and generate employment and business opportunities for our countrymen, then let us NOT make it hard for these foreign investors to do business in our country.
By
Anonymous, at 5/03/2008 12:09 PM
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