Throw the book at Dichaves - DEMAND AND SUPPLY

Now that a bank official has debunked the claim of Erap crony Jaime Dichaves that the Jose Velarde account is his, it is time we throw the book at him. This crony has made a mockery of our laws and should be put in his place. For starters, he should be made liable for obstruction of justice for trying to mislead the impeachment court. If he actually filed a sworn motion, perjury should be added as well.

But to make it really hurt, his properties (the Boracay property, for example) should be sequestered on suspicion that some of these were obtained in violation of our anti graft laws. Even as a private citizen, the Ombudsman, if he isn’t sleeping as usual, should be able to look into the activities of this crony who has made much out of his close relationship with Erap.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue should look into the assets and liabilities of this crony and check all that against his tax payments. If he had paid the right taxes, that will be good news. If he hasn’t, make him contribute more towards reducing the government’s budget deficit. He must also be made to testify in the impeachment court, even as a hostile witness, to declare under oath all that he knows about the Velarde accounts and other shenanigans.

Sel Yulo and George Go should also be called to testify and amplify on the activities of Jose Velarde. Everybody is saying they want to know the truth, but when the truth is about to be uncovered, all sorts of legal technicalities are thrown in the way.

One thing is sure. The President is mortally wounded by the Velarde revelation. There is no doubt his ability to govern is now severely jeopardized. If some senators still vote or abstain to acquit him, the country will most definitely just go downhill very fast.

The whole country is being sacrificed for the gratification of one man’s ego. Enough is enough.

PCIBank

As a former PCIBank myself, I am overjoyed that a PCIBanker has decided to risk her life to reveal the truth behind the Velarde account. I was starting to get very disappointed that the Equitable side of the merger has seriously damaged the good image of PCIBank. Not even the resignation of George Go was enough to repair that damage. Now with Clarissa Ocampo, there is a good chance that the damage may be contained.

Actually, the bank should consider dropping Equitable in its name and just retain PCIBank. The joke’s on the name Aquitable – even Sen. Serge Osmeña made it permanent in the Senate records last Friday. In the banking business, image is everything because with it goes trust. Even those who do not understand banking too much know there is something wrong associated with the Equitable name.

With the name Equitable there, people will be constantly reminded of how a small Binondo bank gobbled one of the country’s largest banks with the help of SSS and GSIS. That’s crony capitalism at work. Even Marcos didn’t misuse the SSS for such purpose. Those of us who do not want to have anything to do with that will have no choice but to close our accounts.

I still have my old account at PCIBank’s Tektite branch. But even before the Velarde thing happened, I was wondering if I should close it. The issue is service. Since it was acquired by Equitable, the service level deteriorated. Other than a few of the old PCIBankers, the friendly frontliners are almost gone.

I was also pissed some months ago that they refused to let me deposit my Philstar check because it didn’t have my middle initial, until an old PCIBank teller told them who I was. I never had problems with my check deposits before. Why the fuss with me when they lifted all the rules for Jose Velarde? I tell you… these Binondo bankers are something else.

I am glad it took a PCIBanker to set this bank right. I am mighty proud of her and from the e-mails I have been getting, so are many other Filipinos, even those who are working abroad.

Poor JAG

While I was at Clark last Saturday, I was reminded of poor ol’ JAG or Jose Antonio Gonzalez. As we passed the Mimosa complex and its great-looking golf course, I remembered how that place looked like when JAG first showed the place to us prior to its development. I remember writing that here is a man with balls, ready to stake everything on something he passionately believes in.

Well, he did stake everything on Mimosa and lost. During the Grupong Hwebes Christmas party two weeks ago, I asked one of JAG’s former staffers how he was doing. Badly, I was told. He is down to his last rickety Toyota. Soon, I was told, he will be hailing a cab off the curb.

Gone are his fancy cars, fancy young wife and even the champion MBA basketball team. Even his mother’s house in New Manila got burned. Wow, I thought. When it rains, it really pours. Luckily for JAG he has a loving son who has done well in his business and is reportedly giving his father an allowance. Imagine JAG living off an allowance!

Problem with JAG is he is too passionate about everything in his life, he tends to bet everything on the table. For a businessman with a lot to lose, he gets too involved in politics. He went all out for Alfredo Lim during the last election and look where Alfredo Lim is now… The last news clip I saw of Fred Lim, he was in Tondo with Erap delivering a blistering speech in support of the President. I wonder if he has even picked up the phone to commiserate with JAG and, as a friend, offered him a month’s talent fee from his television program, if only to help.

JAG’s no angel, of course. And he has crossed too many people to make him enough enemies in his lifetime. But what happened to him shouldn’t happen to a dog. Maybe it is karma too. But wow… it is really scary… retribution was sure quick and merciless.

Erap joke

Reader Orly Morabe sent in this Erap joke.

Erap to dermatologist: Doc, kumakati uli ang puwet ko.

Doctor: Talagang di gagaling yan pag di tumigil si Zamora at si Puno sa kakahalik dyan!

(Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected])