Monday, September 10, 2007 Nalzaro: Hello, Garci: a waste of time By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
AS I predicted in my previous column, the Senate is just wasting its time and effort in investigating the “Hello, Garci” tape controversy. Nothing substantial and significant came out on the first day of the hearing. Vidal Doble, a dismissed agent of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces (Isaf), sang the same tune when he testified on the issue before the House of Representatives two years ago.
The only intriguing thing about his new testimony is his implication of a Malacañang official, Remedios ‘Mely’ Poblador, as one who convinced him to leave the San Carlos seminary where he sought refuge following his expose on the Isaf wiretapping operation which caught on tape President Arroyo talking to Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano about a million-vote lead in Mindanao days before the 2004 elections.
Doble also implicated Globe telecom as part of “Operation Lighthouse.” In his previous testimony, he only named Smart Communications as their contact. He also revealed that he was paid P2 million by former president Joseph Estrada’s mistress, actress Laarni Enriquez, through former NBI deputy chief Samuel Ong, for the original copy of the wire-tapped conversation.
As we all know the primary objective of these congressional hearings is “in aid of legislation.” So what law can the Senate legislate out of Doble’s revelation? Nothing. Sen. Panfilo Lacon, who revived the “Hello, Garci” issue, has his own agenda. And it is just unfortunate that his colleagues did not see this grand deception to advance Lacson’s personal motive.
I hope our legislators will leave this behind and instead focus on more substantial issues that can solve the country’s pressing problems. However, next on the Senate’s agenda is the investigation of the “Wowowee” controversy. Susmaryosep!
******
Talking of cellular service providers, if there is a network war between GMA 7 and ABS-CBN then the competition in the telecommunication industry, especially in the cellular phone business, is also heating up. Smart Communications, the cellular provider of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, and the Ayala-owned Globe Telecom are slugging it out in the market. Both companies are claiming that they have the best service, the widest area of coverage and biggest subscribers.
Gokongwei’s Sun Cellular ranks a poor third in the market due to its failure to improve its services and area of coverage. This, despite its very attractive and enticing offer to cellular subscribers, like unlimited calls and text. Sun Cellular’s signal is strong in key and urban areas but if you go to the rural areas there is no more signal. The company, though, is targeting the corporate world and the young, especially students who are dependent on allowance from their parents. Sun’s failure to expand its operation in rural areas has discouraged customers.
As a cellular subscriber myself, I will go for good service where I can use my phone anywhere and anytime of the day. Owning a cellular phone nowadays is no longer a luxury but a necessity. So why subscribe to a company that cannot satisfy your needs. As to the leading companies Smart and Globe, they are trying to outdo each other by offering additional services and features, like Internet service, e-mail, wi-fi, banking, video streaming and 3G technology. And now you can watch your favorite TV programs on selected channels on your cellular phone. So far, this feature is only offered by Smart and depending on the capability of your cellular phone unit. I’m sure that Globe will also introduce this kind of service soon. Good thing about competition, it’s the public that will eventually benefit.
