March 09, 2009 04:17 PM Monday [ journal.com.ph ]
SUBIC Bay Freeport -- “It can be hearsay or maybe factual. I’m very sorry if it created a lot of trouble.”
Renowned architect and urban planner Felino Palafox, Jr. apologized to five public officials, including Sen. Richard Gordon, whom he implicated in alleged anomalies at the Subic Bay Freeport during a congressional hearing last week.
Palafox issued the apology during the resumption of the hearing conducted by the House committee on Bases Conversion after failing to substantiate claims of protectionism and corruption against Gordon, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chair Ephraim Genuino, former congressman Prospero Pichay, Buhay partylist Rep. Carissa Coscolluela, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority director Ricardo Coscolluela.
The House committee, chaired by Isabela Rep. Edwin Uy, is looking into various claims of Palafox in connection with the controversial Ocean 9 hotel-casino project. These include allegations of tree-cutting at the project site and extortion.
Palafox earlier said the five names he mentioned were being brought up constantly by “hundreds of people” as protectors of SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, and involved in some anomalies in the freeport.
However, members of the committee grilled Palafox upon realizing that the architect cannot substantiate his charges with solid evidence.
“We cannot just allow anybody, even us legislators, to accuse anyone without reasonable basis,” said Rep. Rosemary Arenas.
Rep. Philip Pichay, meanwhile, told Palafox that he has caused pain not only to his brother Prospero, but also their mother and other people close to the family.
“My brother is in the water (utility) business,” said Pichay, then wondered aloud how his brother got associated with issues in Subic.
Pichay then demanded a public apology from Palafox, specifying that it must be printed and aired in the media to clear the names Palafox has “smeared.”
Palafox said he “never accused anyone” and that he was merely relaying information he has received.
“I must apologize for the pain it might have caused,” said Palafox. “I am just a taxpayer -- I don’t have the resources to investigate, so maybe these should be referred to the National Bureau of investigation, the Ombudsman, or to other agencies,” he added.
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