‘Kapitan’ finds buyer for remaining stake in PAL

A piece of sad news for me which dominated the headlines last week — alongside of course the devastating news of the super typhoon and the ludicrous news of the sham Napoles trial — was the report from London that the sale of our flagship carrier by Filipino tycoon Lucio C. Tan is “almost in the final stages.” This is what Philippine Airlines (PAL) president Ramon S. Ang told reporters who accompanied him to London on PAL’s inaugural flight.

While I am hoping of course for the best for PAL, it was a sad bit of news for me because I will always remember all the times myself and my colleagues have taken PAL flights for our work as journalists. I will treasure the assistance and courtesies that PAL personnel extended to all of us during our many work trips to various destinations all over the world. And I will forever treasure all the memories, such as the time that ‘Kapitan’ and I took the famous stairway comprised of 365 steps on one of our travels, to the surprise of our companions who declined to join us in the historic climb. It was a moment to remember.

Indeed, there are many great memories. However, one of the things I will always remember the most — even above all the amazing sights and travels — is the humility and kindness of ‘Kapitan’. He is a very successful businessman and a billionaire, making him someone that can easily be considered a head and shoulders above us mere mortals, but regardless of his success and fame, he remains generous, kind, and down-to-earth. These are some of his best assets and what endear him to everyone around him. To be sure, I will always remember ‘Kapitan’ as a good friend and colleague and wish him and PAL all the continued success for the future.

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What a week it has been for the Philippines. There has just been so much going on it almost seems hard to be able to keep up. It just seems like the hits just keep on coming and coming one after the other. We were already dealing with the sudden need to apply for a visa to go to Hong Kong, the awful weather and rain that just keep on coming, and of course that sham trial that had everyone stop what they were doing and tune to their television sets only to turn away in disgust upon realizing that it was not going to go anywhere.

The entire program seemed like a satire fit for television: Napoles in her bulletproof vest (what happened if someone decided to shoot for her head?) looking distraught and dismayed and trying to appear innocent and wrongfully accused. For weeks, while we all waited for this day to happen, we had hoped some light (even just a little) would be shed on what happened and that, finally, some people would be made to pay.

Alas, that was not to be. Napoles has had ample time to scheme and plan with her legal team on how she can best “evade” answering any questions and lead the Blue Ribbon Committee on a fruitless chase to get any solid information at all. Basically, to sum up her entire appearance in a nutshell, it was a badly acted case of amnesia. I honestly cannot believe the audacity with which she sat there and denied every single thing. It can really only mean one of two things — either she is terrified of the possible repercussions against herself or her family if she talks or she honestly believes she can get away with it.

Looking back at the Janet Napoles who has been seen on video clips and television prior to the scandal breaking I would say the latter is more likely to be true. Here is a confident woman who knows she has powerful backers in all the right places. A little time spent in jail (and being made as comfortable as possible, mind you) is not going to scare her into thinking that her contacts will not eventually come through for her in the end. I truly believe she believes she will never have to truly pay for her crimes. Her daughter articulated it perfectly when she said she knew her mother would never go to jail for these crimes and that those prosecuting her should be aware of who they are dealing with. With statements and sentiments like that paving the way for the hearing is it really any wonder that Napoles gave up absolutely nothing?

It’s disheartening but not surprising. And that alone just goes to show how accustomed we have gotten to not getting justice in this country. If it weren’t so sad it would be laughable. Can we honestly say anyone has ever truly had to pay for their sins? Wide scale corruption in the Philippines has never ever successfully been punished. Oh sure, we’ve impeached a couple folks, and even put some in jail from time to time, but did they actually serve their entire sentence? Were they not somehow miraculously pardoned or let go within two years or less? Did they ever have to give back even a percentage of what they stole from the country? The answer to all of the above is no. And what’s more — the punch line of it all — most of them are right back in power.

Honestly, all of it has left such a bitter taste in my mouth. When will things ever really change? I am done listening about daang matuwid. Will we actually see this happen during this administration? So far, the prognosis does not look good. It just looks like business as usual. Sure you can continue to blame the problems on evils from leaders past but the fact remains, you are in power now Mr. President and you have yet to prove your promises will actually be kept.

While I continue to hope for real justice to be served this time, I am tempering my hope with pragmatism because I know the reality is that it will end up being a long drawn out legal charade and somehow this weasel, Napoles, will most likely find a way to evade the punishment she deserves. I hope not, but again, our track record is not good.

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And honestly, most everything brings me back to Napoles and the pork barrel scam. The recent calamity of Typhoon Yolanda has devastated parts of the country and has broken global records for being one of the worst typhoons in history. Don’t you think P10 billion or so would have made a big difference had it been channeled into the proper government programs back when it should have been instead of into hummers and limousines and other such nonsense? What a difference a stable calamity fund would have made and how much relief would we be able to give those in need now without having to hold fund-raisers spearheaded by non-government companies and private citizens. Not that we don’t want to help, of course everyone wants to do what they can, but there would just be so much more help to give if the government properly handled our taxes.

But again no use crying over spilt milk now because the reality is we have found ourselves in another state of calamity, and there are so many in need. Private companies and citizens are mobilizing to give as much as they can. If you have time to put together some goods or a donation in cash – any amount can make a difference. Networks like ABS-CBN, GMA, and TV5 are spearheading major fundraising campaigns and Red Cross, Air 21, and more are finding ways for everyone to be able to help.