After a brief survey, the conclusion was reached that many businessmen are against new taxes. Instead, most of them agree that the government should be more aggressive in its tax collection. In fact, Ramon ‘Boy Blue’ del Rosario Jr., the vice chair of the Makati Business Club, suggested that the President should catch just one "big fish" for tax fraud. It was obvious he was referring to taipan Lucio Tan. Del Rosario seems to have an axe to grind against Lucio Tan. Apparently, he has never forgiven the taipan for being responsible for his rejection as finance secretary by the Commission on Appointments during FVR’s time. In fact, Jake Macasaet in his Aug. 3 Malaya column believes that ‘Boy Blue’ is the wrong person to say that and we quote: "The members of the MBC and the entire business community may well be reminded that Del Rosario, with that statement, made himself the pot calling the kettle black. I recall that the Commission on Appointments rejected, not just bypassed, his nomination as secretary of finance. For a very valid reason: Del Rosario, being the then chief financial officer of San Miguel Corp., presided over the sale of the company’s subsidiary – Neptunia – in Hong Kong. There are two things here that don’t make Del Rosario clean as a whistle as he loves to portray he is. First the documentation of the sale was made in Hong Kong. Therefore, he avoided – we might say evaded – payment of millions of pesos in documentary stamp tax. He admitted before the CA that his act was legal, but could be immoral. That is the tax part. Worse, if he had his way, he would have used the proceeds of the sale to buy SMC’s sequestered shares reportedly for the Sorianos. This is illegal because shares were bought by company funds are to be retired. They are to be called treasury shares. Let him without sin cast the first stone. Del Rosario did, but he is not without sin. What else can we say.
Cape-On Crusader
If a person’s IQ can be measured by the way he makes travel inquiries, then many well-known legislators will fall under the IQ zero category. Our travel agency Ear-spy gave us several examples of these legislators’ classic inquiries, which we will feature in several installments. Here’s the first: This philandering three-term mayor who recently lost his congressional bid reportedly wanted to go to Capetown. Explaining the length of the flight, passport information and other travel requirements, the travel agent was interrupted by the ex-mayor who said, "I’m not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts." Without trying to make him look like the stupid one, the agent calmly answered, "Sir, Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa." It is no wonder that this crusader just got politically-caponed.
Leap Of Faith
Speaking of crusaders, Sir Ed Artis – a sixty-plus Templar Knight – just made a parachute jump with the Philippine Marines last week. And to think that the American-born knight just suffered a heart attack less than a month before the leap as he was given honors by the people of Sulu. Like Indiana Jones, Ed missed the drop zone by a mile and landed right in the middle of a rice paddy to avoid hitting a house, a fence, or a big ditch in the Fort Bonifacio area. The knight, who is a good friend of the Man from Cavendish, has done a lot of humanitarian work for people in the conflict areas of Mindanao, for orphans, and for children who need emergency medical treatment. Cavendish cautioned his friend not to take such leaps of faith everyday, only once a knight.
What A Fine Lady
An unassuming presidential daughter-in-law, who just got married last year, was sighted by our Eye-spies pushing her own grocery cart in Rustan’s supermarket last weekend. Her security detail was discreetly following her an aisle away. Even her husband unobtrusively has been known to go to his law classes in a simple car like a Revo. Compared to the relatives of local officials who throw their weight around, most people find the couple’s simplicity and humility very refreshing. Even the presidential daughter herself has been known to conduct herself in a very low-key manner. The lack of airs and pretenses of the children speaks well of the First Family.
Erratum
In reference to the July 22 "Senatorial Senility" item, one of the writers in our pool made the mistake of basing it on "Ex-senator’s son found," a July 13 Manila Standard item, due to the possibility of kidnapping or of "hulidap." We would like to sincerely apologize to the respected former legislator, who served with distinction from the 1960s to the 1970s, and to the family for carrying the item. SA has inflicted the necessary disciplinary measures on the staffer in order for this not to happen again. As it turns out, the case involved a child of an incumbent senator.
* * *
Join our ring of Eye-spies by sending your intelligence information, complaints, pictures, and comments to [email protected]
Former Ilocos Sur Vice Gov. Chavit Singson gave his reaction over Miss Universe Organization's move to allow transwomen and women with children to compete at the prestigious pageant.
Filipino-American model and fashion designer R’Bonney Gabriel has been in the Philippines for about a week now for “special projects,” she told Philstar.com and other press at Rustan’s Makati’s summer launch last week.
Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!
