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Monday, August 22, 2005
Nalzaro: Mangaoang’s martial rule
By Bobby Nalzaro
DOES Cebu Customs Collector Lourdes Mangaoang own the Port of Cebu? I pose this question following reports that the feisty lady collector has ordered the banning of an insurance executive, who filed graft charges against her before the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman, from transacting business at various customs offices. If the reports are true, I can say that Mangaoang’s directive is worse than Martial Law.
Reports have it that the lady collector has issued a memorandum to all her deputies and division chiefs to ban insurance agent Charles Almendras from transacting business with the Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu and its sub-ports of Mactan, Dumaguete and Mactan Export Zone for violating the Tariff and Customs Code and Revised Penal Code for trying to bribe her and other customs officials.
Almendras, the branch manager of Sterling Insurance Company, together with Lelis VLim, an agent of the same company, filed criminal and administrative charges against Mangaoang before the anti-graft office in connection with bond transations. Almendras and Mangaoang have been trading accusations on the issue over the media. He also filed charges against his own Makati based superior, Rafael Del Villar and Pilarcita Pearson, Mangaoang’s favored special agent.
In his complaint, Almendras alleged that Mangaoang through Pearson forced one of their Cebu-based clients, Supercat Fast Ferry Corp., to get their re-export bond from the company but through their Cagayan de Oro branch in the amount of P21 million. If they will not accede to Mangaoang’s order, Almendras said, she will not approve the policy. Thus, Almendras claimed, his company here in Cebu suffered losses and damages and their Cebu agent was deprived of her legitimate commission.
If the complaint is true, why is it that Mangaoang favored the Sterling Co. Cagayan de Oro branch over their Cebu branch? Is it because she is a native of the place or because of something else? Just asking. But whatever it is, why make this insurance issue a personal one? If Almendras attempted to bribe her and other customs officials just to get favored transactions from the bureau, why did she not order his arrest right there and then? Or perhaps request her favorite National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) not CIDG 7 to entrap Almendras.
Madam Lourdes, your directive is worse than Martial Law. As if you own the customs building. The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the implementor of Martial rule, did not even ban his political opponents and anti-Marcos personalities to transact business in various government agencies. What if Almendras insists in transacting legitimate business with the bureau, would Mangaoang order his arrest and detention?
As I observed, the lady collector has gain more enemies than friends since she assumed her position few months ago. Did Almendras really try to bribe Mangaoang? Or gamay lang ug hinatagan Madam? Again, just asking?
And how true is the information I gathered that Mangaoang’s lawyer, who defended her in all her cases, is courtesy of a well-known businessman whose shipment of luxury cars were intercepted by police operatives three weeks ago in Mandaue and were turned over to the customs?
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com/09193181404)
(August 22, 2005 issue)
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