Lightning rod

Controversial PNP Chief Alan Purisima finally faces the Senate inquiry today to answer a slew of accusations thrown his way from a variety of sources.

The accusations range from questionable wealth, the donation of a mansion to house the police chief, the contract involving delivery of gun licenses, and, in general terms, the mismanagement of the country’s police force. Purisima has become the lightning rod for all that seems to have gone wrong with the PNP of late, especially the series of high-profile criminal incidents involving rogue cops.

President Aquino has stood in staunch defense of his beleaguered police chief. The siege on the police official, however, has been relentless, reaching a crescendo the past two weeks or so.

Several high profile personalities, including Sen. Grace Poe, have suggested Purisima either take a leave or resign his post in the face of mounting controversy. Some, like Sec. Panfilo Lacson, say this is to unburden the President. Most think this is necessary to arrest building cynicism towards the PNP.

Resignation does not seem to be an immediate prospect. Last week, Purisima’s own spokesman was promoted to speak for the entire police force.

His defenders, particularly PNP spokesman Reuben Theodore Sindac, claimed last week the attacks against the PNP chief are orchestrated by unnamed parties. Like most other controversies breaking out involving politically prominent and influential personalities, hidden agendas inevitably come into play.  Interested parties jump into the fray.

Those close to the PNP top echelon insist a demolition job is in progress. It is an effort pushed from at least three quarters: siblings who once enjoyed favorable supply contracts with the police force; a highly visible politician trying to deflect public attention from his own failings; and, more definitely named, a squad of political operators from Central Luzon who took the lead in filing cases against Purisima.

 It is not clear if Purisima’s appearance before the Senate will bring closure to the many controversies hounding him or bring him closer to the end of his career. We will know by the end of this day.

The PNP, as we know, is a snake pit of factional players and disbursers of intrigue. That is testimony to how unprofessional this organization has become.

Controversy comes with the territory, as we know too. It is also true, however, that too much controversy can hamper job performance.

Delay

The largest single investment project for the Clark economic zone may be in for inestimable delays, and even dissipation, as the project financier and the principal project contractor are embroiled in a legal tussle. The delays could impact on the prestigious international meetings scheduled for next year as well as discourage other potential investments to the zone.

The projected Global Gateway Logistics City is a sprawling, well-planned aerotropolis astride the international airport. Spread over the 177-hectare leased area and including scores of modern facilities, the project involved investment infusion of about $3 billion and could potentially create high-quality jobs for tens of thousands of Filipinos.

Global Gateway is a project of The Port Fund, the Kuwaiti-led financing entity that pools funds from several Gulf countries. The first structure to be completed is the 150-bed world-class medical facility due to be inaugurated towards the end of this year.

At the onset of this project, The Port Fund contracted Peregrine Development International, Inc. as the contractor for the sprawling project. Earlier this year, however, the project financier terminated its contract with Peregrine for cause.

In response to Global City filing an international arbitration case in Singapore, Peregrine won a temporary restraining order from Angeles City Regional Trial Court judge Omar Viola to maintain the status quo.  The trial court’s restraining order was subsequently reversed by the Court of Appeals.

Despite the reversal, Peregrine continued to control the perimeter, impeding ingress and egress. Global City then appealed to the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) to enforce the CA’s order and prevent Peregrine’s army of security guards from impeding work in the project area.

Last week, however, Judge Viola issued another TRO in favor of Peregrine. The contractor petitioned the court to protect its interests since the arbitration case with Global City was still pending. The 72-hour TRO restored the status quo ante where Peregrine prevented new contractors hired by Global from entering the zone. Peregrine maintains its engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract remains live until after arbitration proceedings resolve the question.

The restraining order should have expired by now. The preceding events, however, indicate that Peregrine will fight the termination of its contract every step of the way, using every legal venue available to do so.

Until the termination of Peregrine’s contract is final, and until a new contractor for the huge project is found, things will continue as they have been the past few weeks, with rival security agencies facing off at the project site. This is not an appealing sight for other investors considering participating in the Global Gateway Logistics City.

This aerotropolis is important for our economy’s competitiveness in the decades to come. It will be a key factor in upgrading our deficient logistical system. It will encourage cutting edge companies to locate in an area where we have our best infrastructure, including our best air transport facility.

It has been nearly a quarter of a century since we inherited this built-up facility from the US military. We have not done enough to fully realize the economic potentials of this zone. The planned logistics city will be a great leap forward — unless it is trapped in the vagaries of our bureaucracy and judiciary.