RP scarecrows: Misrepresenting and scaring Boeing

From April 4 to April 12, there have been eight articles in major broadsheets that have erroneously reported that Boeing Company, the world’s largest aircraft maker, is transferring its Repair-Maintenance-Overhaul (RMO) logistical hub to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Special Economic Zone. These articles came out in Today, Manila Standard, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine STAR, the Daily Tribune, and two in the Manila Bulletin over the past week. Obviously, Clark International Airport Corp.’s (CIAC) president Adelberto Yap held a press conference because the statements were attributed to him. Before things get out hand, Boeing and US Embassy officials wanted to put the story straight. The Philippine STAR article even read: Aircraft maker Boeing Co. is close to a deal with the government to set up a regional logistics and maintenance base worth at least $400-M at a former American Air Force Base, a government official announced yesterday. A delegation led by Roger Taylor, head of Boeing’s Asia Project Development, including Col. Alexander Cox, head of strategic planning of the US Pacific Command has been negotiating with Clark’s current owners. Confidential sources disclosed that Boeing considers this series of articles as not genuine. The Boeing and US Pacific Command (USPACOM) officials met with General Yap merely to listen in on ideas that could be applied to the Philippine Defense Reform Program (PDRP), not to negotiate for Boeing. Col. Alexander Cox was not part of any delegation and he most certainly is not the USPACOM head strategist. Also, Boeing was misrepresented because in their official statement, they haven’t agreed to committing the investment and to leasing 80 hectares at Clark. To put it simply, no firm proposals have been put on the table. These are merely exploratory talks. False newspaper articles based on erroneous press conferences could even get military officers fired or jailed. Local officials have to seriously consider the implications before they make any half-cooked announcements that they intend to aid electoral campaigns. Worse, they scare off potential investors by divulging confidential discussions. To put the matter straight once and for all, Boeing’s Taylor, along with a member of USPACOM explained that he met with the president of CIAC, which does the development planning. They received a briefing on Clark’s development plans and discussed their concept. Subsequently, all three had a social lunch together. In an official statement, Boeing has warned its key staff that in case they are contacted by the media, they have to inform them that the quotes attributed to the foresaid articles are completely inaccurate and out of context with the meeting with Yap. Boeing’s Taylor clarified that he never inferred anything of that nature. Taylor added that he gave Yap an overview of IDS Aerospace Support capabilities and emphasized that he was only doing fact finding regarding RP government plans for the former air base to determine if there was a viable aerospace support opportunity. Because of CIAC’s Yap ill-timed press release, Boeing made it clear that it is not considering leasing any land nor establishing an MRO facility at DMIA at this time, nor are any executives coming from Seattle the week after Holy week to inspect the East site. Taylor stressed that they are only doing some fact finding on DMIA’s development plans and ODA’s willingness to fund the development at this time to support internal Boeing discussions. Boeing has clearly reminded CIAC presidentYap that it is way above his head to discuss the DMIA project, and that Boeing would appreciate he keep discussions private to preclude unnecessary and potentially damaging incorrect media reports.

RP uses ‘pride chicken’ to counter terrorism

The country’s counterterrorism efforts suffered a recent setback when 53 inmates at the Basilan provincial jail, including an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf Gang (ASG) members escaped last Saturday. Our top Ear-Spy said that US officials were disturbed over the development. The New York Times "quietly warned" the Palace that it "had not been doing enough to crack down on terrorism". In fact, the chiefs of missions of several countries held a series of meetings with GMA and top government officials at the Palace last March 22 over the issue. An unidentified US Embassy official said that given the new urgency to the situation, RP authorities should give new focus to move ahead with its anti-terrorism efforts. The RP government has been in a "state of denial" over the terrorist threat. The chiefs of mission reportedly provided urgent information and asked the RP government to act on it. The Palace created a national anti-terrorism task force headed by Defense Secretary Ermita. When asked about the US warning about RP’s weak counterterrorism efforts, Ermita was reportedly quoted to say, "We don’t need other people to tell us what to do." Now this is pure and simple Pride Chicken, which is unnecessary in today’s security environment. We need all the help we can get. Especially, accurate intelligence assistance coming from the US and our allies. The worst trap that the nation’s security and intelligence officials can fall into – in a globalized world that recognizes no borders anymore is – unnecessary Pride Chicken. To combat global terrorism, we need all the help we can get. The US is providing us all the help we need to pull out terrorism’s roots in the region. We must respond to this assistance and use it effectively. This kind of misguided nationalism belongs to the ideologies of the last century whom America defeated. It has no place in the Asymmetric Warfare of the 21st Century. There is nothing to be proud of if 30-plus captured ASG terrorists can escape from jail. Again and again.

Paging Mr. George Ty

Frustrated Metrobank insiders revealed that it is the only bank whose union is still in deadlock with management over its collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This has been prolonged for over a month now. Maybe someone should bring this to the attention of Mr. George Ty.

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