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New hotels and clubs are opening every month and more
are under construction. But despite these signs of optimism,
October 2008 is not the cheeriest month we have had in Angeles City in
recent years. Accusations of the police setting up tourists with underage girls and
then demanding huge payoffs have gone from bar talk to a full blown
website that has been listed in numerous newspaper articles as one brave
guy is fighting back instead of paying off the police and leaving town.
Several police listed on this website have filed charges against a
American female that lives in Angeles because they "think" she took a photograph that is on
this website, therefore she "must" be the webmaster! She has countersued.
In addition to the alleged police corruption, more bars raided
recently and at least one female floor manager was
held for over one month for hiring a "suspected underage" girl that had a valid license issued by the Mayor's office. Amazingly, the same official
from City Hall that approved the girl's license was reported to be
part of the raiding team! Whenever these raids happen, the bars
usually end up paying a hefty fee, even if they are never found guilty
of any wrong doing. In addition to some of the staff frequently
spending days, weeks or even months in jail and the businesses suffer lost
revenues from closures and legal fees. And now Christmas is on the
horizon which means more visits/inspections/raids from city hall, the
PNP, NBI Clark, NBI Manila, the BIR, the Barangay, etc. Of
course these costs are reflecting in increased costs of drinks and
entertainment.
The tourist police have been disbanded and several
sources say the number of "bad actors" on the street are on the
rise already. Petty crimes like pick pocketing is also on the rise
throughout the tourist district. Add to this, it is a known fact that
thefts and home break-ins increase significantly in November and
December so the thieves can provide their families with Christmas
presents. Therefore, I recommend everyone exercise a little
more caution when you walk around after dark. EXPATS, remember
previous holiday seasons and beef up the security in your residences.
Now, unconfirmed reports that a new group from City
Hall
has created a list of businesses (virtually all the clubs) that must pay
them a monthly fee, which for some of the bigger bars is over $4000 a
month. This is not the infamous Jojo group that was shaking down
all the clubs earlier in the year. But, a new group collecting a "fee" for which
the businesses will receive no receipts.
Furthermore, as I reported in previous newsletters, the minimum
wage has been increased four times in the last two years and another
significant raise is being considered. Additionally, all imported food
and liquor prices have
increased dramatically in 2008. These increased wage costs,
increased imported food prices and across the board increases in
local foods, supplies and bottled gas all reflect in increased prices to
the tourists after they arrive on vacation.
Asian tourists in Angeles have increased dramatically
with the cheap direct flights from Singapore, Malaysia & Korea. As
a general rule, those from Malaysia & Singapore attempt to mix with the
AC crowd. But the xenophobic Koreans are just the opposite. They
almost always travel in groups and shun conversations with any
non-Koreans (except bar girls, and even with the bar girls there is
often little to no conversation). In February 2008, I
indicated that the area that was known as Friendship during the days of
the US Military was becoming "Korea Town." Now, they
have erected pillars on both sides of the road designating the area as
Korea Town. It should be noted that very little "friendship" is shown to non-Koreans
visiting the area. On several occasions, when I have been checking
out new businesses, I have been approached by the staff and told the
establishment was for KOREANS ONLY and to please leave! (There are
exceptions like the Westin & Ramada hotels which Korean owned, but
gladly accept all nationalities.) The large, unfriendly, Korean population is IMO
having a increasingly negative impact on Angeles City.
Airfares from most major destinations (USA, Australia
& Europe) to the Philippines are nearing double what they were one year
ago. This can only mean a significant drop in tourists in the coming
year. The only bright spot in this area is direct flights between Bangkok
and Angeles City (Clark) are beginning on 8 Nov on Cebu Pacific for much
less than current fares out of Manila.
Several long term EXPATS have recently sold their
businesses, packed their bags, and left Angeles City. The most
significant being Mark Smith from the Roadhouse (details below). Love him or hate
him, Mark did more than any other EXPAT in the last 15 years to insure
that Angeles City was a great place for tourists. It is unlikely
anyone with his skills will step up to the plate to interface with the
mayors office and other local politicians any time soon.
On top of all this, an Australian business man was
assassinated on his way home in late September. Personally, I don't
believe this murder or the anticipated pre-Christmas increase in crime
indicates a change in the safety of tourists. The shooting wasn't
a random event, but a "hit" directed at a specific individual.
Angeles has always been a high theft city and it is always worse in the
months leading up to Christmas.
Doom & Gloom? No, I believe that tourists should be able to visit
Angeles in the next few months and have a great, incident free vacation.
But, they should be alert and properly secure their valuables at all
times. And yes, everything is going to cost more than it did last
year. Most of the major problems I've mentioned are going to
effect the business owners more than the average tourist. For
right now it is still a fun party town and personal security is still as
good as most major US or European cities. |
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Cebu Pacific is starting direct flights from
Clark (Angeles City) to Bangkok in November
!!! These flights are on
Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday. Round trip price runs
from $200 to $300 depending on how far in
advance you book your tickets. Baggage is
strictly limited to 15 kilos with a hefty
overweight charge. I have already booked
two tickets and will report on these flights by
December.
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Want to read more about Angeles City?
Check out the current issue of
City of Angeles
magazine. Click on the photo for a direct
link. |
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Another popular monthly magazine on Angeles City
is the
Blue Book. Click on the magazine on
the left for a direct link to their website. |
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news
clippings |
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Accusations of Police Corruption and Libel Charges!
Nothing
good can come out of all this being in the press. |
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Friday, August 29, 2008
Aussie in attempted
rape case says he was 'set up'
ANGELES CITY -- An Australian
national who was charged with attempted rape by
the Pampanga Criminal Investigation and
Detection Team (CIDT) has alleged that he was
set up by police officers who apprehended him
last August 13.
Dr. Stephen Charles Soul, 58, of Doña Josefa
Subdivison in Barangay Malabanias here was
charged with two counts of attempted rape before
the Office of the City Prosecutor after two
minor girls were rescued from his apartment. The
victims complained that they were molested by
Soul and another foreigner identified only as
John Doe in the complaint sheet.
Soul denounced the case filed against him,
saying it is "an extortion attempt" by
policemen. He also alleged that a group of
policemen here belong to a syndicate victimizing
foreigners. Soul has a doctorate in economics
and retired as a justice of peace in Australia.
He arrived in this city in January this year to
enjoy retirement at age 58. "I have been told
that many foreigners have been victimized
before, but no one dared speak out. Someone has
to speak out. It can not go on like this," Soul
said after posting P120,000 bail for his
temporary liberty.
Scores of foreigners, who left the country after
claiming to have been framed up with accusations
of pedophilia, have reportedly came out with
websites like
http://centralluzoncorruption.com/ to
"expose" the alleged operations of syndicates
victimizing foreigners. Their aim is to "warn
other tourists" visiting this city.
Soul was jailed for 10 days at the Angeles City
District Jail with 54 other inmates. But the
allegation made by Soul was dismissed by
Superintendent Florendo Saligao, chief of the
Pampanga CIDT. Saligao denied that Soul had been
framed up. "He was in-quested. If there was
frame-up, this would not happen," he said. In
his report, Saligao stated to the prosecutor
that at about 1 p.m. last August 13, mothers of
14-year-old Amy and 17-year-old Joy (not their
real names) went to the CIDT office in Barangay
Amsic here to report that their children were
detained against their inside Soul's apartment.
The minors, who communicated with them through
mobile phone, reportedly gave their parents the
complete address of Soul's apartment. Elements
of the Pampanga CIDT, together with Amy and
Joy's parents, arrived in Soul's place at 2 p.m.
Saligao said his men found the apartment's door
unlocked and "immediately entered and saw the
two foreigners molesting the victims." He said
Soul was then arrested while his companion
escaped through a fire exit.
Soul said Amy and Joy were introduced to him by
his former girlfriend who got pregnant with
another guy. He alleged the policemen arrived in
his apartment five minutes after the girls came,
indicating that they were already in the
vicinity from the beginning. With only a towel
wrapped around his waist, Soul said policemen
locked him in a jail near Clark. Without his
statement being gathered at the police station,
one who introduced himself as "Ranger" allegedly
told him that the mothers of the girls would
drop the case if he could pay them P500,000. The
amount, according to him, was later reduced to
only P300,000. "I can't pay them that much. I'm
not that rich," he said. Soul also lamented that
a lawyer recommended to him by another foreigner
residing here had not even prepared any
counter-affidavit in his case. "Every time we
talk, the only thing he asks me is to settle the
case by paying up," he said.
According to Soul, he was told that while the
case had already been filed with the court, he
still had a chance "of being relieved" from the
case "as even some officials in the local
judiciary system are in collusion with
syndicates involved in extortion frame ups
victimizing foreigners." Saligao, who assumed
post as CIDT chief in Pampanga a year ago, said
he knew Ranger, the man who allegedly sought
P500,000 from Soul, as being a member of the
"tourist police" in this city. But he stressed
that his men do not frame up foreigners to gyp
money from them, saying his unit even organized
Oplan Sagip Anghel to protect children from
pedophilia.
In their sworn affidavit, the two girls said
they were walking along Doña Josefa Subdivision
around 2:30 p.m. last Aug. 13 when Soul and
another foreigner offered them snacks. "We
really thought we were just going to have a
snack, when they suddenly pulled us into an
apartment," the victims said. Inside, they were
given soft drinks and sandwiches. "After we are,
we were made to shower in the bathroom and after
that they brought us to a room and kissed the
sensitive parts of our body," the said. In the
separate sworn affidavit of the victims'
parents, they said their minor daughters did not
come home since the morning of August 11. (RGN)
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Article on PNP starting
a probe of
"police syndicate." |
Thursday, September
04, 2008
American faces libel
case
By Reynaldo G.
Navales
ANGELES CITY -- Three
separate cases of libel were filed against an
American who allegedly effected the publication of
articles about the alleged corruption of public and
police officials in this city and in Central Luzon.
The articles are posted online at
http://centralluzoncorruption.com/Set-upsAngelesCityStyle.htm
website
Police identified the foreigner as Maribel Langley
Van Keulen of Apartment B, 34 Cavite Street,
Mountain View Subdivision in Barangay Balibago here.
Among those who filed three separate complaint
sheets before the Office of the City Prosecutor
against Langley are businessmen Jonathan Ponce and
Elpidio Lim, both residents of Barangay Balibago
here, and Chief Inspector Luisito Tan, deputy chief
of Angeles Police-Station 4.
In his complaint, Tan claimed that Langley allegedly
published a story referring to him as "Screwy-youie-Louie".
He said he was called as a police officer who is a
chief murderer, extortionist preying on foreigners,
and father of the "rugby" boys along Fields Avenue
here. He also filed similar charges against
one Linh Wang, the alleged owner and publisher of
the website.
"In my 27 years of service in the Philippine
National Police (PNP), I never encountered such
issues against me. The publication of these
fabricated articles caused me sleepless nights and
anxiety," he said. The website allegedly also
shows a photograph of Tan with alleged undercover
police agents assisting Ponce and Lim.
But the police official clarified that the photo was
taken by Langley at the Office of City Prosecutor
several months ago and that she just met Ponce and
Lim at the said office. According to Tan, he
had a chat with the duo before going to the
preliminary hearing of another case of Oral
Defamation he filed against Langley previously.
Ponce stated in his complaint sheet that he
recognized Langley as the one who took the
photograph because of his clothes.
"I noticed a person on the other side of the table
who appeared to me as a lesbian American pointing
her mobile phone at us if I could be mistaken. I
later came to know that the lesbian-looking American
is Maribel Langley Van Keulen," Ponce stated.
He also said that he was surprised by the
accusations hurled against him that he was involved
in the extortion activities of policemen since he
was not in any way connected with the PNP. Although
Major Tan and I are mere acquaintances, I have also
known him to be a sincere, honest, and law abiding
citizen and a police official," Ponce stated.
He added that "with the malicious and baseless
defamatory imputations against us, which sternly
ruined his reputation as private person, it is just
proper to defend his honor through legal process."
For his part, Lim denied that he was connected with
police officers gypping money from foreigners. |
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Aussie trader shot dead in Angeles
City
By Tonette Orejas Central Luzon Desk Sept
24,2008
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CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines—Two unidentified men shot
dead an Australian businessman in Angeles City, north of
this city, at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday. Senior Superintendent
Pierre Bucsit, Angeles City police chief, identified the
victim as Ivan Brown. Police investigators learned that the
gunmen, riding in tandem on a motorcycle, opened fire as
Brown drove past the Seramonte Lodge along the Friendship
Highway in the village of Anonas. The triggerman used a
.45-caliber gun, said the police. Brown, who has a company
inside the nearby Clark Freeport, lived in Timog Park beside
the ecozone. Investigators were still determining the
motive for the killing, the second roadside ambush in
Angeles City in two weeks. |
Sunday, September 28, 2008
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – An Australian national who was shot
dead by two motorcycle-riding armed men along the Friendship
Highway in Barangay Anonas, Angeles City was a respondent in
a case for attempted homicide.
This was the initial findings of Angeles City police
director Senior Superintendent Pierre Bucsit during a case
conference Thursday
on the killing of Ivan Brown, 65, of Timog Park Subdivision,
Barangay Pampang, Angeles City.
In his report here, Bucsit said the victim was a respondent
of a case for attempted homicide at the Municipal Trial
Court Branch 111,
Angeles City docketed cc no. 08-3657.
The victim has posted bail on the said case on Aug. 20.
Bucsit said the complainant identified as Gerald Wayned
Hiller, also an Australian national of Hensonville Plaza,
Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City.
The said case transpired on Jan. 17 at Cold Drop Bar along
Friendship Highway in Barangay Anunas.
The killing of Brown was the handiwork of gun-for-hire, said
Bucsit.
Brown on Wednesday was on his way home on board his Toyota
Prado (RCW-885) when gunned down by two men riding in tandem
along the Friendship Highway in Barangay Anonas.
The vehicle of the victim slammed at the cemented fence of
Sierra Monte Hotel along the Friendship Highway.
After killing the foreigner, the suspects immediately fled
toward the north and now the subject of manhunt operations.
Police recovered four spent shells for a .45 caliber pistol
at the scene of the ambush.
Brown was the president of Outback Five Star Clark,
Philippines, a firm manufacturing ice boxes and coolers at
Clark. – Ric Sapnu
Update 7 Oct from Ian's
nephew
Charges for murder,
forgery, and great threat have been file against Gloria
Fuentes Brown, my uncle’s wife at the Angeles city court.
I have been quite as I can’t leak to much as it may cause
problems. I currently have 24hr a day guards on my house, I
can’t even chance sending my kids to school. My family has
had threats directly from her. I have vouched now not to
walk away from these parasites, I not fair for me or you!
Yet my uncle. My uncles wife, (bitch) tried to manipulate
shares in our company 6 months ago and was caught out. The
hit was planned quite some time As, sources have reviled.
Here for justice is not like most places, yes it cost $ and
believe me ive spent so much. Yet it the system here.
People bag certain police, but I must say most have been
very professional; my hat goes of to Mr Tan.and Station 4
have been so good, we have also helped them were we can with
leads. |
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Interchanges (Entrances & Exits) to SCTEX being
built on Clark |
Japanese to build 4
SCTEx interchanges
By Tonette Orejas
Philippine Daily
Inquirer
MABALACAT, PAMPANGA –
The two Japanese contractors of the Bases
Conversion Development Authority have agreed to
build the four interchanges on the Pampanga and
Clark Freeport sides of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac
Expressway and finish these by mid-2009.
Narciso Abaya, BCDA president and chief
executive officer, confirmed this to the
Inquirer on Thursday on the eve of the opening
of the Clark-Tarlac segment.
The Floridablanca and Porac
interchanges will be built by the Kajima Corp.,
Obayashi Corp., JFE Engineering Corp. and
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (KOJM), the
builder of the 50.5-km Subic-Clark portion.
The Clark North and Clark South interchanges
will be done by the Hazama-Taisei-Nippon Steel (HTN)
Joint Venture, which completed the 43.27-km
Clark-Tarlac segment.
Abaya said KOJM and the HTN
agreed to do the interchanges because the
project’s contract required them to undertake
additional works. The general managers of
the two joint ventures declined to be
interviewed on Thursday when the BCDA kicked off
here its project to plant 20,000 trees in five
years along the 94-km highway. In previous
interviews, they confirmed the hesitancy but
declined to give the reasons for such.
Abaya said the construction of the interchanges
would be funded by the P6.1-billion supplemental
loan obtained by the BCDA from the Japan Bank
for International Cooperation. The
JBIC also provided the P21-billion loan to build
the SCTEx, the country’s newest and longest toll
road.
Construction works have
started for the Clark North, including its
3.8-km Panday Pira Road leading straight to the
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, the
country’s port of entry for the open skies
regime of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations starting December this year. The
Clark South is being built as well. Since
the opening of the Subic-Clark segment on April
29, the Tollways Management Corp. reported a
daily toll collection of P550,000. This
was below the projected income, Abaya said,
adding that he hoped that over time and with the
opening of the interchanges, more motorists
would use the SCTEx. The loan, payable in
30 years, has a 10-year grace period for the
payment of the principal that starts in 2013.
The government has begun paying the loan
interest.
“This brings us closer to the
vision of President Macapagal-Arroyo to make
Subic and Clark into an international logistics
and service hub,” Abaya said at the launch of
the greening project. “Traveling
here is fuel efficient. It is a safe access to
the North,” he said. “This is a historic moment.
It is record-setting [because] it was finished
in three years’ time.” |
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By
FEDERICO D. PASCUAL Jr. - Philippine Star
CLARK FIELD Work has been going on
furiously here to put back the interchanges of
the P27-billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx)
that had to be dropped when funds were ambushed
by commissioners along the 94-kilometer road.
The dropping of the vital Clark interchange has
embarrassed President Gloria Arroyo, the
patroness of the Clark industrial-tourism zone
who has been boasting that this signature
project in her home province would spark the
rapid development of Central Luzon. But
how can the SCTEx serve Clark, its main client,
without an interchange through which raw
materials can be received from the Subic port
and finished products trucked back for export?
To plug the gap, the Bases Conversion and
Development Authority has borrowed some P6.4
billion more from the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation. The JBIC already lent
earlier some P23 billion for the entire length
of the expressway and the missing interchanges.
* * *
WORK RUSHED: One interchange is being rushed
near the Yokohama Tire factory in South Clark,
and one each in the towns of Floridablanca and
Porac, which are adjacent to this former US air
base. There is another interchange near the Expo
Filipino (also known as the Ramos White
Elephant) but officials are representing it as
an extension of Panday Pira road. Why the fuss
over what to call it when it is clearly an
interchange because it has an exit and an
entrance to the SCTEx? Officials of BCDA assure
us that the Panday Pira interchange will be
finished before the yearend and the other one
near Yokohama by Feb. 14 as a Valentines Day
gift. The interchanges at Porac and
Floridablanca may take longer (possibly later
next year), because the roads to which they will
connect are to be built by the Department of
Public Works and Highways, which is not known to
work that fast.
* * *
SLOW POKE: Some BCDA officials are afraid that
if they rush the Porac and Floridablanca
interchanges and complete them without the DPWH
roads, they would be accused of having put up
White Elephants. They do not want a repeat of
the embarrassing Bridges to Nowhere of President
Arroyo erected by the British firm Mabey &
Johnson even where there was no river or creek
to span or in the absence of connecting rural
roads. (The scandal did not faze the local
runner of M&J. Emboldened by his Palace
connection, he has reportedly found a new
principal, a French firm, selling steel bridges
that are reportedly 2.5 times more expensive
than comparative European bridges in the
country.) Engineers said the Porac and the
Floriblanca interchanges are actually not as
urgent as Yokohama and Panday Pira in Clark, but
that the projects are political commitments of
somebody in Malacañang.
* * *
SPECULATORS: But the biggest news here at the
moment about the interchanges is the frenzied
real estate transactions and speculation
involving business-minded politicians. Some
technicians tell us that while the owners of
land hit by the interchanges have to haggle to
get a good price under expropriation
proceedings, speculators and officials with
insider information gobble up adjacent property
at higher prices. One landowner with property
near one interchange is being offered in court
only P150 per square meter, while well-connected
officials and their business associates have
cornered adjacent property for much more.
One interchange being eyed with suspicion, also
with jealousy, is the interchange in barangay
Dolores in Mabalacat. This is in addition to
another interchange, also in the same town, in
barangay Mabiga where motorists from North Luzon
Expressway enter SCTEX. We have not heard
of a good explanation for the redundancy. Having
two interchanges in one town and adding two more
right in Clark does not seem to make sense to
many observers.
* * *
DESERTED ROAD: A drive through the SCTEx prompts
one to ask how the expressway can pay for itself
with its scanty traffic. Driving from Clark to
Subic and back, for instance, one hardly sees
other vehicles on the road. At the toll rate
being charged, the road will not be able to earn
enough for its upkeep, much less to pay for the
P27 billion borrowed from Japan to build it.
That is just vehicular traffic, most of which
consist of a few weekenders and sightseers. As
for the trucks and vans supposedly laden with
raw materials for the factories in Clark, one
hardly sees them. Despite its obvious design
deficiencies, the road is a beautiful experience
for Filipinos used to bad roads and who have not
traveled abroad. The scenery is still pleasant
until the strip beside the expressway starts
getting dotted with squatter shanties and
billboards, which may not be far off.
* * *
NO TURNING: Motorists should be warned that
there is no exit or U-turn anywhere between
Clark and Dinalupihan in Bataan, which are about
50 kilometers apart. If one enters the
expressway and changes his mind or realizes a
mistake about which direction he should take,
there is no way he can turn around. He has to
drive the entire length between Dinalupihan and
Clark to go back. As for the question of why
there are no lights, making the expressway
dangerous for night driving, motorists are
forewarned that they have nothing but their
headlights and the reflectorized signs to guide
them. By and large, however, the SCTEx is
a good road. Driving through it is an experience
like driving on an expressway abroad that
one wants to talk about. |
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Burglars steal P1.2M
By Reynaldo G. Navales
MABALACAT -- Cash amounting to
P1.2 million and other items worth P500,000 were reportedly
stolen from a big supermarket in this town at dawn last
Tuesday.
The thieves, who belonged to a group known as Acetylene
Gang, managed to enter and rob the Jumbo Jenra Supermarket
in the commercial area of Barangay Dau, this town, through a
hole they drilled from an apartment directly connected to
the walls of the establishment.
Acting Mabalacat chief of police Jovencio Flores said the
suspects used a small Acetylene machine to the supermarket's
vault.
"There are many suspects. Their number cannot be less than
eight," Flores said on Thursday.
Aside from the P1.2 million cash, the suspects also carted
away a laptop, a digital camera and other valuables worth
P500,000.
Flores said almost a month ago, a couple rented the room the
suspects used as entry point to the supermarket.
Residents near the establishment told police investigators
that they have been hearing noise from the apartment rented
by the suspects over the past few weeks.
Witnesses also stated that a group of persons carrying big
bags came out of the said apartment around 6 p.m. on
Tuesday. They immediately boarded a Mitsubishi L300 van and
left the place. According to Flores, they have identified one of the
suspects with the help of witnesses. He, however, refused to
give the suspect's identity, saying it would hamper their investigation.
Flores said they are now preparing charges against the
suspect and his companions.
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Wednesday,
September 24, 2008
Bidding for DMIA Terminal 2 project fails
By Reynaldo G. Navales
CLARK FREEPORT -- The Joint Venture
Special Committee (JVSC) of the Clark International Airport
Corporation (CIAC) has declared as "failure" Monday's
competitive selection of constructors for the P6.5-billion
Terminal 2 project at the Diosdado Macapagal International
Airport (DMIA) here.
Only one bidder-company passed the requirements to build and
operate the DMIA Terminal 2. However, CIAC officials said
they will now pursue other options for the immediate
implementation of the project.
Admiral Energy LCC USA, a Chicago-based firm, passed the
eligibility, technical and financial requirements during the
JVSC bidding process held at the Mimosa Convention Center on
Monday.
"This is a positive development for DMIA and we can move
forward from here, the company (Admiral Energy) passed the
three requirements and even exceeded its minimum
investment," CIAC President Victor Jose Luciano said.
"We can say we will have a terminal by the first quarter of
2010," Luciano added.
In its bid, Admiral Energy offered P12.4 billion to develop
the DMIA Terminal 2 project, exceeding the required minimum
investment of P6.5 billion.
It also offered an upfront payment of P108 million,
exceeding the required minimum upfront payment of P100
million; and a minimum guaranteed annual payment of P261
million.
Luciano, however, stressed that the JVSC headed by its
chairman, CIAC executive vice president Alexander Cauguiran,
will now have to undertake post qualification evaluation
within 15 days.
CIAC will further scrutinize the proposals, Luciano said.
Cauguiran clarified that Admiral Energy is not yet declared
as the winner in the bidding despite passing all the
requirements under the eligibility, technical and financial
proposals, as this will undergo careful review. He said he
will award the contract to Admiral Energy if it passes the
post-qualification evaluation.
But if the firm fails in the evaluation, CIAC will undergo
again the same bidding process or will look for a new mode
of implementing the project.
Two other bidders -- Synergy International Resources Group
Company, Ltd. and Philippine Regional Investment Development
Corporation -- did not pass the eligibility requirement
under the Competitive Selection Process of the joint venture
guidelines.
The CIAC Board on Monday decided to pursue the bidding under
the Limited Negotiation process wherein Admiral hurdled the
technical and financial requirements.
There were initially 11 public sector participants (PSPs) or
"bidders" who joined in the pre-selection conference held a
few months ago at the Mimosa Convention and the number was
eventually reduced to three.
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Thursday,
September 25, 2008
Air Force mulls Clark pullout
By Reynaldo G. Navales
CLARK FREEPORT -- The 600th Air Base Wing
of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is prepared to pull out of
this Freeport, a ranking PAF official said.
Newly installed Wing Commander Francisco Cruz said the PAF
has commissioned the creation of a master development plan
citing Crow Valley in Tarlac Province and Basa Air Base in
Floridablanca, Pampanga as new locations for the 600th Air
Base Wing.
Cruz, over the cable program "Aksyon Central Luzon Special
Edition" hosted by veteran broadcaster Sonny Lopez Jr., said
the total cost of the pullout and transfer of personnel,
equipment, and infrastructure from Clark is about P8
billion.
"We are just waiting for the master development plan to be
finished before we could proceed with the pullout of
personnel," he said, adding that only a small contingent
will remain in Clark.
He stressed that the presence of PAF here is vital for the
Freeport in terms of security, citing President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's vision for Clark when she declared the
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport as the country's
premier gateway.
"The presence of Air Force personnel inside Clark plays a
very important role as far as security measures are
concerned, especially now that the Diosdado Macapagal
International Airport (DMIA) is on its way to becoming the
country's premier gateway," Cruz said.
The PAF is based inside the 333-hectare Air Force City here.
The area has 668 housing quarters and accommodates 4,318
people mostly composed of enlisted personnel, dependents,
and civilian employees.
It had been staying in a designated area here known as the
Clark Air Base Command (Cabcom) when this Freeport used to
be the United States' largest military installation in the
Asia Pacific Region.
It has continued to secure Clark environs after the US
military's pullout following the Mount Pinatubo eruption in
1991.
The volcanic eruption and bases pullout prompted the
government to transform Clark into a special economic zone.
On June 10, 1995, the Department of National Defense, Bases
Conversion and Development Authority, and Clark Development
Corporation signed a memorandum of agreement for the
management, responsibilities, and delineation of areas,
among others, of the former Clark Air Base.
This agreement, which does not observe any timetable, is
renewable every five years.
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ANGELES CITY
CALENDAR: Here is something that
should sell out fast, a calendar with some of
the cuties from Gecko's Bar. Nice photos,
but nothing you can't hang up in your office at
home. The Calendar begins in September
2008 and ends in December 2009. There are
16 beautiful girls and an added bonus picture
every month with each picture being 12 x 18 1/4
inches. Cost will be P690 each and they
can be purchased in Gecko's or Margarita Station.
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Our good friend Sherylie was featured in
June's FHM Magazine. We have a few copies that she autographed for
Tom Donnelly's fundraiser. These are on sale from our
cashier for P500. All profits go to the Tom Donnelly
medical fund. |
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ROGER "BUCK" SCOTT,
a retired USAF CMSGT died in Angeles on 13
September. He is survived by his wife and son. |
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GLEN FOSTER,
age 52, died in his sleep on Saturday night Sept 20th.
He had a business
on Clark and in Cebu making shower screens. Lived at Kareela in
Sydney. |
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Ivan Brown, an Australian businessman
was gunned down by a hitman on the rear of a motorcycle.
See news articles above. |
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SERVICED
HOUSE FOR RENT Available 2 October thru 21
Dec, and again after 3 Jan 09. We only have
one, so book early. You can rent one
bedroom and have the entire house to yourself, or a
group of 3 guys can have a party house much cheaper than
3 hotel rooms. For more
details see
http://www.margarita-station.com/house.html |
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