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Monday, October 10, 2005
Mongaya: Yu ambush
By Anol Mongaya
WARRING fraternities reportedly agreed to give up members who figure in violent encounters. Let’s see if they’ll actually do it. In the same news story, the leaders balked at the difficulty of instilling discipline on rank and file members and passed the buck instead to chapter leaders. I say both the chapter leaders and higher officials should be held liable too at the pain of being labeled members of a criminal group.
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The ambush and death of businessman and GMA supporter Wilson Yu shocked the business community. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should not leave any angle uninvestigated.
Curiously, while many recall Yu as a good and generous man, some friends mentioned interesting angles into his business dealings and connections. For example, Yu is not normally part of President Arroyo’s entourage when he is here in Cebu. A Chinese-Filipino official said he has not seen Yu during GMA visits. However, another source said he a friend of a top Pagcor official.
A newspaper report meanwhile focused on a gambling angle. The ambush victim reportedly figured in a clash between two illegal gambling groups—a Cebu-based group and its alleged rival that the grapevine referred to as “Australian.”
However, other sources deny the existence of a clash between the two groups. The “Australian” reportedly respected the Cebu group and concentrated its attention to Mindanao.
On the other hand, a grapevine source remembered Yu as having messed up with a rice smuggling ring in the past while another said the case involved a woman.
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Erstwhile Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 Chief Oscar Catalan is reportedly on the way out because he messed up with the Bureau of Customs. In fact, word is the turnover ceremonies had been set today. Let’s see.
Customs watchers consider Catalan and the CIDG as one of the reasons for the low volume of importations. Many importers reportedly feared the alleged “extortion” activities of Catalan.
Catalan should have taken Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s accusation of alleged “extortion” seriously and reined in his boys who were regular fixtures at the Cebu International Port. Even RTC Judge Ireneo Lee Gako realized that he could be in hot water for messing up again with matters involving smuggling.
Nevertheless, Catalan is not the only reason for the low volume of importation that has resulted in record lows in revenue collection. Importers also fear the fluctuating peso-dollar rate and the buying power of the market.
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A friend said investigators looking into the fake business permit anomaly at the Cebu City Hall are still scratching the tip of the iceberg. He said the money that did not reach the City’s coffers could exceed the payroll anomaly years ago.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
(October 10, 2005 issue)
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