Monday, March 10, 2008 Mongaya: Protracted House inquiry By Anol Mongaya Panahom
SOME Cebu importers and brokers at the Cebu port had long been hoping for the congressional inquiry into luxury car smuggling to wind up early so the situation can return to normal.
Not that they cannot do some “trabaho” because recent apprehensions in Cebu by Collector Des Mangaoang’s X-ray group proved some unscrupulous importers still have some “parating.”
Because of the pressure, local importers of truck parts and multicabs for instance—note that these are not luxury vehicles—could not anymore register assembled vehicles at the LTO. Cebu port stakeholders also complain that national attention here put up a smokescreen on the continued “trabaho” in other parts of the country.
After observing the hearing in Manila last week, I can only say that it will go on for several more hearings yet.
For example, Reps. Mitos Magsaysay and Bichara smelled blood as they, together with opposition congressmen like Rep. Roilo Golez, pushed for a subpoena on PASG Chief Antonio Villar.
While Villar threatened to resign instead of subjecting himself to what he described as “interrogation” at the congressional hearing, Secretary Cerge Remonde told me the Palace would not accept his resignation because they believe he had been doing a great job against smugglers in the country.
Bayan Muna’s Rep. Teddy Casiño, on the other hand, has zeroed in on getting former LTO boss Reynaldo Berroya before the congressmen to answer questions on the registration of 40 luxury vehicles in Cebu but with car plates issued in Metro Manila. An official at the LTO Diliman confirmed that the plates were issued because the papers had a note “F A/A” from Berroya. This reportedly spelled “for appropriate action” but actually meant for approval.
***
The tremendous pressure as a result of the media-lobby campaign waged by car dealers and the protracted congressional inquiry against luxury car smuggling in Cebu did not stop the flow of smuggled goods into Cebu as evidenced by the series of apprehensions these past weeks.
But two businessmen tasked with collecting “tara” from local importers for Manila achieved starting last week what the car dealers and congressmen failed to do. The two—with the initials PG and SU—violated a cardinal rule of smuggling syndicates. Instead of keeping their mouths shut, they bragged about how much they have been collecting in front of top officials getting lesser amounts.
I just hope that they have enough “kapit” to avoid the fate of lesser mortals who violate the Philippine version of “omerta.”
***
Be wary of these cheap Cebu Pacific promos because these are not really as cheap as advertised. Worse, one might end up stranded like what happened to me at the old domestic airport in Metro Manila Friday even if you comply with conditions imposed by the airline.
I arrived at the row of check-in counters some five minutes before the 45-minute check-in time at the Cebu Pacific terminal for my 1:45 pm flight from Manila to Cebu last Friday. I’m sure because I glanced at the wall clock, as my watch is a few minutes advanced.
However, instead of a check-in counter for Cebu, I found two passengers bound for Cebu exchanging harsh words with one of the Cebu Pacific clerks behind the express counter.
Listening to them, I realized we had been bumped off because the flight had been overbooked. I glanced at the clock on the opposite wall and it was exactly one o’clock. The airline decided to stop checking in passengers early to accommodate the chance passengers who paid a much higher price than us promo passengers.
When the earlier two irate passengers abruptly left minutes after, I handed my ticket saying I was already there before check-in time. But the clerk rudely pointed to the clock and said your five minutes late.
It took me a while to get my bearings back and call a friend, who is a friend of the airline’s PR named a certain Resty Reyes. A few minutes later, this friend said let’s wait because Resty already knows the situation. More than an hour later however, my friend said, “Sorry pare, hindi na sumasagot si Resty.”
Good that I had extra cash at that moment. But I had enough of Cebu Pacific. Instead of buying the more expensive regular Cebu Pacific ticket, I took a cab to the Centennial terminal to take the next available PAL flight.
(Check out my blog “In Between Columns” at anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
