Peace and order at Subic back to normal

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) expressed relief yesterday that the peace and order situation here normalized after barricades allegedly put up by supporters of former freeport administrator Richard Gordon, were dismantled.

If not for the intervention of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, SBFCC president Jose Saddul said the barricades would have continued to disrupt business operations at Subic.

"We would like to thank the President for her quick response in helping us solve this problem over the past few days. We were worried that the same situation in July 1998 when Subic lost millions of dollars in business transactions, would be repeated," Saddul said.
Mrs. Arroyo dispatched former Armed Forces chief Lisandro Abadia to Subic the other day to investigate the barricades put up at the freeport’s major entry and exit points.

Earlier, Mike Pusing, information officer of the Olongapo City government, denied that the Gordon camp was behind the barricades.

He issued the denial, as City Hall reported that 170 luxury vehicles were brought out of the freeport at the height of "People Power II" at EDSA last Saturday.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Felicito Payumo, however, insisted that the luxury vehicles were released by Customs after the appropriate taxes were paid.

Meanwhile, Payumo said he is ready to give up his post if Mrs. Arroyo will designate his replacement.

He said he has informed Mrs. Arroyo of his willingness to step down, but the President instructed him to remain until her administration is able to address the matter.

"There is life after Subic and there are (business) options that will open up," he said in an interview over radio station dzMM.

Payumo lashed at the Gordon camp for allegedly trying to create a chaotic atmosphere at Subic.

Pusing, however, said tension prevailed at Subic following reports that equipment and documents were being spirited out.

Pusing said volunteers and civic groups manned the Subic gates but were driven away as the SBMA closed all entry and exit points with barbed wire and trucks, causing inconvenience to investors, workers and residents. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe