Hanjin cleared of bribery charge
MALACAÑANG yesterday said that the issue of alleged bribery by Hanjin officials to a Misamis Oriental town mayor is a closed book after investigators did not find any proof to substantiate the charges.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita noted that Tagaloan Mayor Paulino Emano denied he accused Hanjin officials of trying to bribe him. “The mayor said in his affidavit that there is really no such thing [bribery attempt] and that he was just misquoted [by media],” Ermita said.
With the bribery issue resolved, Ermita said Hanjin could now proceed with the construction of its $2-billion shipbuilding facility in Misamis Oriental.
Local officials have promised to issue the permits to the Hanjin for as long as it is able to meet the requirements, Ermita said.“The crisis is averted. Things had been cleared up.”
Malacañang declared the case closed since the police did not find anything to press the bribery charges.
Ermita said that what is important, after all the brouhaha caused by the alleged bribery, is that there is no more finger-pointing and the concerned Misamis town mayors have already lifted their order to suspend the issuance of necessary permits to Hanjin.
Ermita said the quick action of President Arroyo has prevented what could have been a “messy” affair if not addressed immediately.
After the issue broke out, the President met with the town mayors of Misamis even as she ordered the Interior and Local Government Department and National Police to dig deep into the charges and countercharges.
Ermita said that with this turn of events, opposition senators no longer have a reason to insist on a legislative investigation into the alleged bribe try.
Earlier the Palace cautioned the senators against pressing for a congressional probe of the issue, noting that Hanjin is one of the so-called “Billion Dollar Club”—foreign companies that invested billions of dollars in the country.
Malacañang said such a probe could scare away other big foreign investors.
The Korean firm is building a $2-billion shipyard that will extend from Tagaloan to Villanueva towns of Misamis Oriental, occupying a 70-hectare property in Tagaloan and another 400- hectare property in Villanueva. Hanjin also operates another shipbuilding facility in Subic. By Roy Pelovello - Manila Standard Today
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita noted that Tagaloan Mayor Paulino Emano denied he accused Hanjin officials of trying to bribe him. “The mayor said in his affidavit that there is really no such thing [bribery attempt] and that he was just misquoted [by media],” Ermita said.
With the bribery issue resolved, Ermita said Hanjin could now proceed with the construction of its $2-billion shipbuilding facility in Misamis Oriental.
Local officials have promised to issue the permits to the Hanjin for as long as it is able to meet the requirements, Ermita said.“The crisis is averted. Things had been cleared up.”
Malacañang declared the case closed since the police did not find anything to press the bribery charges.
Ermita said that what is important, after all the brouhaha caused by the alleged bribery, is that there is no more finger-pointing and the concerned Misamis town mayors have already lifted their order to suspend the issuance of necessary permits to Hanjin.
Ermita said the quick action of President Arroyo has prevented what could have been a “messy” affair if not addressed immediately.
After the issue broke out, the President met with the town mayors of Misamis even as she ordered the Interior and Local Government Department and National Police to dig deep into the charges and countercharges.
Ermita said that with this turn of events, opposition senators no longer have a reason to insist on a legislative investigation into the alleged bribe try.
Earlier the Palace cautioned the senators against pressing for a congressional probe of the issue, noting that Hanjin is one of the so-called “Billion Dollar Club”—foreign companies that invested billions of dollars in the country.
Malacañang said such a probe could scare away other big foreign investors.
The Korean firm is building a $2-billion shipyard that will extend from Tagaloan to Villanueva towns of Misamis Oriental, occupying a 70-hectare property in Tagaloan and another 400- hectare property in Villanueva. Hanjin also operates another shipbuilding facility in Subic. By Roy Pelovello - Manila Standard Today
Labels: bribery, hanjin, misamis oriental, shipbuilding
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