By MIRIAM CORONEL FERRER
ABS-CBN News; 03/13/2010

Everyone has been focused on the election trail, and while we’re not looking, the government is fast tracking the selling of valuable government assets.

The issues surrounding the selling of the Food Terminals in Taguig and the real estate owned by government in Fujimi, Japan have already come out in the open. But still outside of the public glare is the ongoing negotiation to sell the 10 percent share of the government in the Malampaya oil field.

If Malacanang manages to arm twist the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) board to sign the deed of sale – and it seems they are trying their darnedest to pull this through — the billions of fresh funds from the sale will immediately prop up the sagging coffers of this administration. But the Filipino people and Philippine government will lose forever significant and potentially higher annual revenues from the resource in the next 20 years.

Gas from Malampaya fuels the 2,700 megawatt power plant in Batangas. So far, Malampaya is the biggest oil and gas producing field in the country. It is estimated to contain 3 trillion cubic feet of gas and 40 million barrels of recoverable oil reserves. However, there are indications that it has much more in store not only in the Malampaya structure, but also in the nearby prospects that Shell and the Service Contract 38 joint venture have identified and will be drilling soon.

The government plans to sell Malampaya for about US$300 million or P14 billion. In 2008, the PNOC-EC earned P3.08 billion, most of which came from Malampaya earnings. At this rate, and assuming steady gas prices and volume of sales, it can easily raise the $300 million in six years without having to sell the goose that lays the golden egg.

In fact, the Malampaya consortium has already fully recovered its initial $4.5 billion investment. It started operation only in 2001.

Obviously, disposing of the asset now will immediately strip the government, starting with the next administration, of a sustained and significant revenue source.

Without the Malampaya asset, the PNOC-EC’s net worth would be decimated. It won’t have the capacity to invest in other exploration projects.

The government plan is to eventually sell 60 percent of the PNOC-EC. But without the Malampaya goose, it won’t fetch much. If it sells PNOC-EC with its Malampaya share intact, it can fetch a much higher value for the same share. So why is the government so keen to sell the shares now?

This is the not the first time, the GMA administration tried to sell the participating interest of the PNOC-EC in Malampaya. In 2005, it approved the sale of half of Its participating share to the Korean LG company. But several people in government managed to block the planned sale. With only three months to go before a new administration takes over, high-ranking government officials are once more working fast to swing a deal asap.

Speculations as to motives are naturally rife when a government-brokered deal is evidently unwise from a business investment point of view and fraudulent from a governance perspective. Some surmise the funds will be diverted to private pockets, or electioneering. Others think the administration wants to exit without the shameful legacy of a huge budget deficit. That’s why they badly need the green bucks-transfusion. Still others cannot help think of even more sinister plots in the offing, such as the eventual privatization of the much devalued PNOC-EC at bargain prices to a favored investment group.

The president has promised a smooth transition to the next administration. And while we have yet to see through this promise, we have before us very high-ranking government officials hell-bent on using their terminal powers to squeeze the most benefit for themselves.

The president has been filling up all appointive positions with people whom we will have to suffer even after she has stepped down. It seems she will appoint the chief justice of the Supreme Court during the election ban period even at the cost of a constitutional showdown. It is pathetic that an incoming AFP chief’s inaugural speech is a plea for trust, given how little there is on both the appointer and appointee.

And now, we have this impending sell-out of a prime revenue-generating government asset for one more short-term and self-serving gain.

E-mail: mcf178@yahoo.com

BY ASHZEL HACHERO
Malaya; February 25, 2010

MANNY Villar, presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party, and Manuel Roxas, vice presidential bet of the Liberal Party, have gotten the support of the Magdalo group which said it could deliver at least 250,000 votes.

The “price” of the support: He will not enter into an alliance with President Arroyo; and he will pursue the Magdalo advocacy on poverty alleviation, anti-corruption, peace in Mindanao, and reform and modernization of the Armed Forces.

A third condition, according to Acedillo, is for Villar to allow other detained Magdalo members to serve in government.

Asked to explain if the condition — “malayang makapagsilbi ulit sa gobyerno an gaming mga kasamahan sa pamumuno ng aming chairman a si Sen. (Antonio) Trillanes IV” — means they would seek amnesty for the detained Magdalo members, Acedillo noted the Magdalo members are still undergoing trial for coup and rebellion. He said they might move for amnesty in the next administration.

The group also endorsed senatorial candidates from different parties, including former fellow military officers Danilo Lim of LP and Ariel Querubin of NP, who are facing court martial for a plot to overthrow the Aquino government in 2006.

Former Air Force 1st Lt. Ashley Acedillo, Magdalo national spokesman, said his group reached the decision after a nationwide consultation process with 400 national and local chapters which have at least 55,000 members.

Acedillo said Villar got 52 percent of the votes of the members and Aquino, or five more than Aquino.

Asked why the Magdalo chose Villar over Aquino, Acedillo said Villar has the competence, character and vision to lead the country.

“Consider this a personal bias, having come from the military. It goes without saying that there is a premium in leadership. The ability to lead the men under you, I think that played a big role,” he said.

Acedillo said the group’s endorsement of Villar and Roxas does not mean severing friendship with other candidates.

“Sina President Erap Estrada, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, Sen. Loren Legarda at Mayor Jojo Binay ay mga mabubuting tao at sila ay mga kaibigan ng Magdalo at mananatiling kaibigan sa kabila ng pag-endorsong ito,” Acedillo said.

The Magdalo late last year endorsed Sen. Francis Escudero, who later dropped out of the presidential race.

Acedillo dismissed reports that the Magdalo group was offered money by Villar in return for its endorsement.

“Sampal po sa amin yun kung may ganun at siguro naman kilala ninyo kami kahit nakakulong kami hindi kami tumanggap ng ganun. Gusto ko lang pong linawin na walang perang involved dito. Mayroon po tayong advocacy na pinaglalaban dito,” he said.

The Magdalo’s other senatorial candidates are Pia Cayetano (NP), Jinggoy Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Susan “Toots” Ople (NP), Gilbert Remulla (NP), Adel Tamano (NP), Ruffy Biazon (LP), Tito Sotto (NPC), JV Bautista (PMP), Joey De Venecia (PMP) and Bongbong” Marcos (NP).

Villar expressed gratitude to the Magdalo whose endorsement, he said, showed his being a “genuine oppositionist.”

“At inaasahan natin ang paglaya ng ating mga sundalong nagnais at patuloy na nagtutulak ng pagbabago sa bansa,” he also added.

Lim, a former general, thanked the Magdalo.

As to the Magdalo’s choice of presidential bet, he said he respects the choice. Lim is running under the LP and is an adopted candidate of the PMP. – With JP Lopez and Czarina Rufino

Ni Ellen Tordesillas
Pebrero 17, 2010

Ang yabang talaga nitong executive secretary ni Gloria Arroyo.

Minaliit kahapon ni Executive Secretary Ermita ang kandidatura ni Brig. Gen. Danny Lim at ang dalawang Magdalo na oisyal, si James Layug, dating kapitan sa Philippine Navy na ngayon ay tumatakbo para kongresista sa second district ng Taguig, at si Gary Alejano, dating Marine captain na ngayon ay tumatakbo para mayor ng Sipalay sa Negros Occidental.
Tinatanong si Ermita kung ang pagpayag ni Judge Elmo Alameda ng Makati Regional Trial Court na makapagpiyansa sina Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, at ang 16 na Magdalo na opisyal at sundalo kasama na doon sina Layug at Alejano ay makakatulong sa kanilang kandidatura, ang sagot ni Ermita na painsulto “Oh..oh…oh.. Only in the Philippines.”

Nakalimutan na yata ni Ermita na minaliit din nila noong 2007 si Trillanes. Kaya nga nila pinayagan kumandidato kasi akala nila walang pagasang mananalo. Kasi nga naman, walang pera, nakakulong pa.

Kaya malaking sampal sa mukha nila ang pagkapanalo ni Trillanes, ang talagang nanlaban at lumalaban sa pagtraidor at pang-aabuso ni Arroyo sa bayan.

Ito namang pagpayag ni Alameda na ppwede na sila mag-bail sa kasong rebelyon kaugnay ng Nov 2007 na insidente sa Manila Peninsula, ang tuno ni Ermita ay wala rin mangyari dyan kasi dalawang kaso ang hinaharap ng mga Magdalo.

Maliban sa 2007 na rebelyon, nandiyan pa rin ang 2003 na coupd’etat kaugnay ng paninindigan nina Trillanes sa Oakwoon Hotel noong Hulyo 2003.

Sabi ni Ermita, iku-contest dawn ng prosecution ang pagpiyansa nina Trillanes, Lim, Layug, Alejano at 14 pa dahil malakas daw ang kaso nila.

Sinabi kasi ni Alameda sa mga ebidensya na binigay ng prosecution, ang maa-aring kasalanan nina Trillanes ay “contempt of court” at hindi rebelyon.

Sabi ni Alameda, “No direct, material and competent evidence adduced to prove the specific act committed by the accused constituting the crime of rebellion or any of the elements thereof. The walkout from the court, the marching to the Manila Peninsula hotel and the press conference held in the same hotel denouncing the administration of President [Gloria Macapagal-]Arroyo are not sufficient to prove the non-bailable crime of rebellion.”

Ang rebelyon kasi ay kung nag-alsa ang maraming-maraming taong may armas ang umalsa. Sabi ni Alameda hindi yan napatunyan ng prosecution.

Hindi talaga mapatunayan dahil wla naman talagang rebelyon.

Kung maayos ang pagpiyansa ng mga nakakulong na mga opisyal, baka si Trillanes na lang nag maiwan dahil hindi naman siya pinapayagan mag-piyansa sa coup d’etat niyang kaso kaugnaay ng insidente sa Oakwood.
Kahit ganun, nagpapasalamat si Trillanes at mukhang hindi napi-pressure si Alameda.