Monday
Brothers against Brother, the "Inside Scoop"
Heard through the grapevine
Taipan Lucio Tan’s brother Harry suspects that their estranged brother Mariano Tanenglian is being given shelter by San Miguel president Ramon Ang in his Diamond Hotel, Ang’s five-star lodging by the Manila Bay.
Not many know that Tanenglian years ago extended Ang a financial lifeline when his Northern Cement Corp. was having a tough time servicing its debts
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideBusop.htm?f=2010/october/8/vicagustin.isx&d=2010/october/8
Chinese community is abuzz with questions about Lucio Tan brother Harry Tan who is more interested about maids, security guards and his brother Mariano than PAL’s financial well-being.
Was it he who masterminded the Maid cases without Kapitan’s approval?
"Stop telling lies about me and I'll stop telling the truth about you." - Gordon Gekko
Estelito Mendoza denies fighting on wrong side of RP history
SOPHIA M. DEDACE, GMANews.TV
10/11/2010 05:33 PM
He has gained the reputation of defending high-profile clients unpopular in Philippine society.
However, after more than 50 years in the Philippine bar, the 80-year-old Estelito Mendoza brushed aside perceptions he has been defending on the wrong side of Philippine history.
For him, everything is just an exercise of the practice of law and making sure that his clients are deemed innocent until proven guilty.
On Monday afternoon, Mendoza gamely answers questions about his clients, the most recent of whom is former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, accused of plundering government coffers during her nine-year regime.
Mendoza also recalls arguing for the government of former President Ferdinand Marcos as solicitor general and justice minister.
When the dictator fell from grace and went in exile in February 1986, the dictator's perceived cronies sought Mendoza's service.
These clients -- business tycoons Lucio Tan and Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. -- were never convicted in court and have not spent a single minute in jail.
"I'm a laywer. I don't choose what cases I have. Those in the wrong side are most deserving of having lawyers," Mendoza says.
"I'm just doing my job and that's what I have been trained for I have been at this for many years. I find great satisfaction performing my duty because I contribute to the administration of justice. I can assure you that I win my cases because I work hard," says Mendoza.
"Fortunately, it turned otherwise. President Aquino, in creating a PCGG, provided ready clients for me. All those being sued by the government became my clients, like Lucio Tan and Danding Cojuangco, who even up to now are my clients in their businesses," the octogenarian lawyer added.
Marcos died while in exile in Hawaii in 1989, leaving Imelda to fend of the sword of justice by herself.
According to records of the Philippine anti-graft court Sandiganbayan as of 2005, Mrs. Marcos continues to face 11 criminal charges and 25 civil cases. Since the 1990s, she has faced more than 900 cases, most of which were dismissed for lack of evidence. The few convictions were overturned.
Tan, for his part, was acquitted of a P27-billion tax evasion case in 2006.
To date, neither the Marcoses nor any of their cronies accused of amassing ill-gotten wealth have spent a minute in jail.
The government has had little success in recovering the Marcos wealth, if only those that are ensconced in a range of corporations and properties.
Mendoza says that Marcos is the "smartest" Philippine president.
"PCW remains steadfast in its position to oppose any efforts of commodifying women and perpetuating sex stereotyping," PCW executive director Emmeline Verzosa said in a statement.
The other ad, which featured Reyes getting ready for her date after taking a shower, was edited to remove scenes "showing a lot of skin."
The 2 ads were part of the Colt 45 Vava Vroom Real Man promo, where prizes at stake are a weekend getaway with Reyes and a tough truck. The beer brand is under Asia Brewery Inc., a company owned by Lucio Tan.
PCW said it will no longer be "forgiving" of Colt 45 commercials, which usually "promote stereotypes of what a real man should and should not do."
Meanwhile, an official of Asia Brewery stressed that the company didn't view the ads as a derogatory portrayal of women as a commodity or prize.
"(The date concept with Reyes) is rather common and a highly accepted experience most people would aspire," said Asia Brewery Inc. senior brand manager Joseph Ryan Consul.
He added, "(Asia Brewery) will ensure to uphold equality in sexes, and uplift the image of women (in all of its communication drives)."
Section 16 of Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women asserts that the State shall endeavor to raise the consciousness of the general public in recognizing the dignity of women and the role and contribution of women in the family, community and society through the strategic use of mass media.
Tuesday
Karma Kapitan
After having a brother battle human rights cases, a Taipan has suffered numerous accusations of Human Rights violations of his own from the new administration.
CHR Chair Loretta Rosales expressed on Monday her support for groups that have called for the implementation of the Department of Health's Administrative Order 2010-0013, compelling tobacco manufacturers to put pictures of the debilitating effects of smoking on their packs.
Rosales, who admitted to be a former chain smoker who kicked the habit in 1994, said the companies' refusal to follow the rules "was a rights violation."
The law of Karma has caught up with the Taipan.
CHR Chair Loretta Rosales expressed on Monday her support for groups that have called for the implementation of the Department of Health's Administrative Order 2010-0013, compelling tobacco manufacturers to put pictures of the debilitating effects of smoking on their packs.
Rosales, who admitted to be a former chain smoker who kicked the habit in 1994, said the companies' refusal to follow the rules "was a rights violation."
The law of Karma has caught up with the Taipan.
Commission in Human Rights Backs Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Packs
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20101005-296071/CHR-backs-graphic-warnings-on-cigarette-packs
CHR backs graphic warnings on cigarette packs
By Kristine L. Alave
MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has put to task tobacco companies for refusing to put graphic warnings on cigarette packs.
http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20101005-296048/Lucio-Tan-firm-assessed-P352M-in-unpaid-taxes
Lucio Tan firm assessed P352M in unpaid taxes
By Carla Gomez
CHR backs graphic warnings on cigarette packs
By Kristine L. Alave
MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has put to task tobacco companies for refusing to put graphic warnings on cigarette packs.
CHR Chair Loretta Rosales expressed on Monday her support for groups that have called for the implementation of the Department of Health's Administrative Order 2010-0013, compelling tobacco manufacturers to put pictures of the debilitating effects of smoking on their packs.
Rosales, who admitted to be a former chain smoker who kicked the habit in 1994, said the companies' refusal to follow the rules "was a rights violation."
"The companies who do not implement the AO should be charged," she said in a press briefing on Monday.
She noted that the health department has put the law in place to protect the lives and health of the public.
CHR Commissioner Cecilia Quisumbing said the companies who have been fighting the law were guilty of "impunity."
The CHR chief issued the call for companies to follow the law after a support group of laryngeal cancer survivors appealed to her to pressure tobacco firms after two companies managed to secure an injunction against the order.
"Every day, 250 Filipinos die of smoking-related illness. But tobacco companies have not just refused to comply with the AO, they've also filed cases left and right against the Department of Health," Emer Rojas, president of New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP) said.
"I have laryngeal cancer, a form of cancer that is 99% caused by smoking. The lying must stop so others will not have to go through the suffering and pain that we, victims of cigarettes - and our families - went through," he added.
Recently, Fortune Tobacco, which is owned by tycoon Lucio Tan, and Mighty J, has asked the court to invalidate the AO. The court granted their requests, prompting the Department of Health to contest the injunction orders.
The NVAP noted that placing pictures of ailments caused by smoking would discourage people, especially minors, from taking up the habit. It noted that the AO was consistent with the health department's mandate to protect the public's health.
====http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20101005-296048/Lucio-Tan-firm-assessed-P352M-in-unpaid-taxes
Lucio Tan firm assessed P352M in unpaid taxes
By Carla Gomez
BACOLOD CITY - The Asian Alcohol Corp. (AAC) has sought permission to demolish its P2.2-billion plant in Pulupandan town but Mayor Magdaleno Peña on Sunday said he would not allow the company to do so until the full settlement of its P352-million tax deficiency to the provincial government and the municipality.
Negros Occidental provincial assessor Merlita Caelian and provincial treasurer Nilda Generoso informed AAC general manager Henry Tan in a letter dated July 26 that his firm owed the Negros Occidental provincial government and the municipality of Pulupandan P352,747,326.75 in taxes.
AAC lawyer Roger Reyes on Sunday said the Lucio Tan owned-firm would not resume operations in Pulupandan and has applied for a demolition permit from the town government.
The firm, estimated to cost about P1 billion, has not been operating for more than a year, having shut down on June 2, 2009 amid demands from the Pulupandan town government for it to comply with the pollution control requirements.
The AAC was planning to invest an additional P500 million in Pulupandan before its shutdown, Reyes added.
The demolition will not take place unless the AAC pays their real property tax liability to the province and the municipality, Peña said.
"If I allow the demolition without their paying the tax, I would be guilty of graft and corrupt practices because, in effect, I would be depriving the province and the LGU of about P352 million in deficient real property tax," he said.
If ACC refused to pay, its plant in Pulupandan could be auctioned off by the government, the mayor said.
On Sunday, Peña furnished the Philippine Daily Inquirer a copy of the letter of Caelian and Generoso informing AAC of its tax deficiency of P352 million, inclusive of penalty, which was traced after conducting a comparative review of real property assessment and tax collection.
The review concluded that from 1997-2009, the cost of real properties, such as land, buildings, machinery, declared by AAC to the Bureau of Internal Revenue was higher by over P12.8 billion than the cost it declared with the local assessor, the two assessors noted in their review.
The estimated difference amounting to P12.8 billion was computed using the audited financial statements of AAC filed with the BIR compared to what was declared in the Local Assessor's Property Listing.
Due to the established difference, they said the deficiency in tax owed by the AAC amounted to P352 million, they said.
In the event of a successful collection, the province of Negros Occidental would get P148,153,877.00 or 42 percent of the P352 million while the municipality of Pulupandan's share would be 20 percent or P70,549,465.20 of the amount.
The barangay (village) where the alcohol plant has been located would get 13 percent or P45,857,152.00 while the local school board would receive P88,186,831.00, representing 25 percent of the tax, a statement from Peña’s office said.
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