3 Senador Lulusob sa Subic

Abante – Boyet Jadulco

Lulusob sa Subic Bay Freeport ang ilang senador upang makita ang kontrobersyal na high-rise condominium na itinayo sa pusod ng kagubatan ng dating base military. Isang on-site inquiry and itinakda ni Sen. Pia Cayetano, chair ng Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, upang mabisita ang kontrobersyal na condominium na ipinatayo ng Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd.

Makakasama ni Cayetano sa paglusob sa Subic sina Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri at Loren Legarda, kapwa may akda ng resolusyon upang maimbestigahan ang posibleng paglabag sa environmental laws sa pagpapatayo ng condominium.

Bingyang-diin ni Legarda na hindi niya mapapalagapa ang ginawang pambababoy sa kagubatan ng Subic para lamang mapagbigyan ang kahilingan ng isang dayuhang investor.

Sinabi naman ni Zubiri na wala nang magagawa ang senado para ipagiba ang naturang condominium subalit kailangan umanong panagutin ang sinumang opisyal na nagbigay ng pahintulot para sa pagpapatayo ng gusaling ito.

“Dapat sibakin ang nagbigay ng permit na ito,” wika ni Zubiri.

Idinepensa naman ni Sen. Richard Gordon, dating chair ng SBMA, ang pagpapatayo ng condominium dahil matagal ng putol ang mga puno sa nasabing lugar noon pang panahon ni dating SBMA chief Felicito Payumo.

Ang nagging pagkakamali lang umano ng SBMA at ng environmental officer ay nang bigyan ng pahintulot ang pagpapatayo ng condominium na lagpas pa sa taas ng torso sa nasabing bundok.

‘Hanjin condo probe could spook investors’

A ranking Palace official has expressed concern about the planned Senate probe on a high-rise condominium being built in the Subic Forest by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd., saying this could spook potential investors in the country.

Presidential Chief of staff head Cerge Remonde said in a phone-patch interview with Palace reporters that while the Senate probe being pursued by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Loren Legarda is “within” their right as senators, they should also consider the fact that Hanjin is among the biggest investors in the country today.

“We should condsider that Hanjin is not a fly-by-night operator. It’s one of the biggest investors in the Philippines, so such an investor could be expected to adhere to the rules and regulations of the host contries. That is why I think we should approach these issues like this, especially in view of our efforts to attract foreign investors in this country,” Remonde said.

He added, “If everytime we have major investors, then we will try to look for lapses, all our efforts might be in vain.”

Remonde said the Senate probe is “within the right of the Senate to do that, and let’s see the bottom line,” but in the meantime, Malacañang “stands by the DENR on hte issue”.

The Senate probe will look into allegations of violations committed by officials of Hanjin, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with regard to the $20 million high-rise condominiums constructed in the Subic rain forest.

Hanjin is a member of the country’s “billion-dollar club”, a name coined by president Arroyo to refer to foreign investors that have infused at least $1 billion in the country.

Last year Hanjin invested $1.684 billion to build a shipyard in Subic.

‘Hanjin condo probe could spook investors’

A ranking Palace official has expressed concern about the planned Senate probe on a high-rise condominium being built in the Subic Forest by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd., saying this could spook potential investors in the country.

Presidential Chief of staff head Cerge Remonde said in a phone-patch interview with Palace reporters that while the Senate probe being pursued by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Loren Legarda is “within” their right as senators, they should also consider the fact that Hanjin is among the biggest investors in the country today.

“We should condsider that Hanjin is not a fly-by-night operator. It’s one of the biggest investors in the Philippines, so such an investor could be expected to adhere to the rules and regulations of the host contries. That is why I think we should approach these issues like this, especially in view of our efforts to attract foreign investors in this country,” Remonde said.

He added, “If everytime we have major investors, then we will try to look for lapses, all our efforts might be in vain.”

Remonde said the Senate probe is “within the right of the Senate to do that, and let’s see the bottom line,” but in the meantime, Malacañang “stands by the DENR on hte issue”.

The Senate probe will look into allegations of violations committed by officials of Hanjin, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with regard to the $20 million high-rise condominiums constructed in the Subic rain forest.

Hanjin is a member of the country’s “billion-dollar club”, a name coined by president Arroyo to refer to foreign investors that have infused at least $1 billion in the country.

Last year Hanjin invested $1.684 billion to build a shipyard in Subic.