Nextel execs asked to answer anti-dummy raps

Government lawyers have ordered American and Filipino stockholders and officers of Nextel Communications Philippines, Inc. (NCPI) to answer charges by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they allegedly violated the Philippine Anti-Dummy Law.

In a hearing conducted last Friday (Oct. 4) by State Prosecutors Benny Nicdao and Paulino Gallegos, Nextel lawyers were furnished copies of the NBI resolution recommending the indictment of Nextel executives who allegedly devised schemes that allowed NCPI’s American mother firm to gain effective control and ownership of Nextel’s local operations.

Under the 1987 Constitution and other Philippine investment laws, ownership of public utilities like telecommunications companies are reserved for Filipino citizens or companies whose ownership is at least 60 percent Filipino.

Summoned to face preliminary investigation for alleged violations of Sections 2 and 2-A of Commonwealth Act 108 (Anti-Dummy Law) were the following Nextel shareholders and officers: Connie Wong, Heng Pin Kiang, Brian Vincent, Melanie Belen, Robert Harmon, Keith Grinstein, Daniel Akerson, C. James Hudson, Timothy Donahue, Craig McCaw, Steven Schindler, Dennis Weilbling;

Lo Van Gemert, John McMahon, Steven Dussek, Eduardo Gana, Jose Alejandro, John Jones, William Conway Jr.; Thomas Lynch; Emilio Festejo, Michel Buhler, Teodoro Regala Sr., Nena Radoc, Rudolph Steve Jularbal and several John Does.

In a 21-page resolution dated Aug. 29, 2002, the NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division led by lawyer Elfren Meneses Jr. explained how Nextel International, Inc. (NII) – the American mother firm of Nextel Philippines – devised a series of indirect purchases through a combination of local and foreign conduit firms to acquire an initial 48 percent, then 51.08 percent and finally 59.08 percent stake in the Philippine trunk radio operator.