Enrile to coconut executive: Explain travels

MANILA, Philippines – After turning the screws on Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has set his sights on another government jet-setter, Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) Milling Group president Danilo Coronacion.

Enrile asked Coronacion to explain in detail his recent travel to Europe, allegedly in the company of Sabio and family.

“In the same way that I have formally asked Chairman Sabio to give a detailed account of his numerous travels abroad in the past years, including the recent one to Europe, I would also like to be informed of whatever arrangements you have made pertaining to the said trip or trips that you were previously a party of,” Enrile told Coronacion in a letter dated June 25.

Enrile earlier warned Sabio of a Senate investigation into his failure to explain his numerous trips abroad since 2006.

Sabio reportedly flew to Europe with his family, all expenses footed by the CIIF.

The CIIF Milling Group, of which Coronacion is also chief executive officer, owns five coconut mills under PCGG sequestration.

Enrile said he would like to know the names of persons who accompanied Coronacion on each trip, including family members, if any; the persons who approved the travel; “and the after-trip or accomplishments reports you submitted after every trip.”

“More importantly, since the CIIF was organized to protect the interests of the coconut farmers, I would like to know whether the coconut industry and its stakeholders actually benefited from these travels in any way,” wrote Enrile. – Christina Mendez