Citing specifics

A group opposing the coal-fired power plant as a source of electricity for Ceneco has a full page Open Letter to the President in this issue. This is just a small number because there was no ample time to get signatories.

Read it fully and understand it. The something like P5 per kilowatt hour might reach P20 in a few years with the fast escalating price of coal. More on this tomorrow.

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I reiterate my welcome to the answer of Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry President James L. Chua.

With friends we went over my articles and his answers. What is the issue? The issue is the alleged corruption of Philippine officials by corporations from China which James complained I generalized and he wanted me to give specifics.

I am very happy to comply with the wishes of my friend, James Chua. He said, he is also against corruption and not defending it. Thanks, James. He wrote, “I am one with you in your stand against corruption and bribery.” And he added, “But please do not generalize… cite the corruption and the bribery and condemn them but please, do not generalize.” Thanks!

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There is the ZTE Corporation of China . It's public knowledge that the broadband network deal with our government was brokered by Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos and cost $329 million. The issue of corruption and bribery was so open that, before be could be impeached, Abalos resigned.

U.S. Ambassador Christie Kenney said an American company could do it at a cost of only $146 million. Amsterdam Holdings wanted a Build, Operate, and Transfer arrangement and was offered $10 million to back off.

Former NEDA Chief Romy Neri was offered P200 million to keep quiet. He did not.

There is also the North Rail as exposed by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, allegedly brokered by Speaker Jose de Venecia. It involved a corporation from China too. The amount was much bigger.

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I will ask friends to research for me other questionable deal with corporations from China . And I will publish them, explaining that it is the desire of James Chua, BFCCCI president that I name specific companies. Of course, you will agree with my mentioning your name. If you do not agree, tell me and I will respect it.

Many Tsinoy friends told me, “James Chua should have not dipped his finger into a too controversial a topic.” But I defended James, that it is his right to do so. And I don't blame him.

I told my Tsinoy friends, China is now very serious in correcting graft and corruption. President Ho Jintao is serious in this because he knows that China must correct the image of its corporations making business overseas. And he is succeeding.

The news was that President Arroyo ordered the cancellation of the NBN deal with ZTE Corporation. The major decision was with President Ho Jintao of China . He wanted it cancelled outright.

So, James can come out a bigger hero by seeing to it these erring corporations are exposed. He could not have been an awardee businessman were he is not discerning and perceptive. For all we know that could have been the purpose that led him to write me.

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Friends asked, what led to this exchange of words. Really, I was stung by his statement, “I do not exactly know why you wrote this.” He was referring to my statement of some corrupt corporations from China and quoting Sen. Miriam Defensor of “ China inventing civilization and promoting corruption.” That was a general statement.

With the question raised by James Chua I was thinking he was suspecting me of writing it to get into a “transaction” with those corporations. But I did not write my suspicion of his thinking and also did not write my own suspicion that he tried to defend these big corporations from China , hoping to be the representative here in the transactions. I did not because one lesson I learned in life is be careful to attribute motives.

Many called up but asked I don't mention their names. But one friend, Joe Valencia, now retired manager of LBC Cargo Forwarder here and in Jakarta , Indonesia , agreed with what I wrote and was suspicious about the purpose of James. He said he was willing to be quoted.

James, my friend, many Tsinoys did not agree with what you did. Check with them. You will know.

Frankly, I consider the matter closed unless you want to answer. You are still my friend. But, should you feel like crossing my path again, feel free to do so and I will gladly oblige in the spirit of a friendly debate.

* * *

I want to welcome to Bacolod , a U.S. Navy man Nathaniel Antonio who is home on vacation. We have been corresponding through the e-mail of the DAILY STAR. And it was his wish to meet the Sunshine Boys who, he said, are popular all over the world. He is from Bacolod , graduated from Tay Tung high school and at Visayan Maritime Academy before joining the U.S. Navy.

He brought me a bottle of red wine, personally autographed in the bottle by the winery owner Rubio Barolo. The wine is “Creja Barvaresco.” Nathan will be here for a week, then proceed to Florida for another assignment before he retires two years after.

He surfs the Internet everyday for DAILY STAR. He said the Sunshine Boys are getting popular all over the world and are a celebrity.

With your celebrity status, he said, when you are asked to sing in a gathering you can charge fees which must be donated to Street Children. Good idea, I said.*

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