“Tiene razon”

As expected, all sorts of speculations and allegations are flying all over the place about the government’s decision to sell the assets of the National Transmission Corp. (Transco). This privatization project has been dragging on for so long, and it continues to be hounded by delays and controversial issues. It can be recalled that PSALM – or the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation – has come under fire due to repeated bidding delays and numerous rescheduling that only ended in utter failures.

And now comes another issue regarding conflict of interest and allegations of graft and corruption because one bidder is the company of businessman Ricky Razon, known to be a close ally of GMA. “Baltic King” Ricky is the chairman of ICTSI and is connected with the Monte Oro Consortium that is bidding for the Transco assets, backed by China’s State Grid Corp.

PSALM president Nono Ibazeta is being asked to explain why there is no conflict of interest in the bidding since he has been a long-time director of ICTSI as well as a board member of Ricky’s other local and international businesses. Ricky has also been implicated as one of those lobbying for the controversial national broadband network project after Speaker Joe de Venecia’s son blew the whistle on the ZTE deal, claiming it was overpriced and tainted with bribery.

Monte Oro has denied claims that Razon is the head of the consortium, saying the businessman has only a two-percent share and that he had committed to divest in the event that Monte Oro wins in the Transco bidding. As usual, our senators have been quick to draw conclusions, alleging collusion and even calling the deal “lutong makaw” as if the result of the bidding is already a foregone conclusion. Of course, we can’t blame people for thinking the Transco sale, with all its previous problems, could be tainted by allegations of corruption considering the ZTE deal, the “cash gift” issue and all the controversies that have been hounding the GMA administration lately.

There’s nothing wrong with friends of the President bidding for a project as long as the process is done in an open and transparent manner, precisely to keep nasty speculations from surfacing like what happened with that road project whose funding was deferred by the World Bank. And if these businessmen are qualified, then there’s certainly nothing wrong with them participating. For one thing, there are many businessmen who are qualified – and who have the money – to conduct government projects, and it would be unfair to discriminate against them just because they happen to be identified with administration officials.

I don’t think anyone is denying the fact that Razon is a friend of the First Couple. But in fairness to him, to this day he has maintained good relations with former presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos – knowing it makes business sense to do so. People should also remember that Ricky has built an international conglomerate that is recognized as one of the top maritime terminal operators in the world. He is a hardworking businessman who works long hours, traveling extensively even as far as Madagascar when ICTSI was working on a major modernization project in that area. Ricky has a very strong partnership with Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka Shing, which could very well help in attracting more business investors in the country.   

No one can argue Ricky has built up the business which he inherited from his father, Pocholo Razon, whom I personally knew. The Razon heir has made it even bigger when he took over after his father died. As they say in Spanish, “tiene razon” – meaning Ricky has every reason to do well in business.

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On a lighter note, British Ambassador Peter Beckingham is hosting the First British Ambassador’s Cup on December 3 at the WackWack Golf Club in Mandaluyong, with former Finance Secretary Bobby de Ocampo and Royal Doulton donating a cup. The tournament promises to be an entertaining occasion, with a gleaming Jaguar waiting for anyone who can make that hole-in-one shot.

The British ambassador is one of the more popular diplomats in the country. He is amiable, easy to approach and dispenses with too much protocol. He’s an extremely popular man – and he’s not even in competition with other ambassadors.

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