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By Efren L. Danao Senior
Reporter
THE Senate Committee on Environment
and Natural Resources will investigate the alleged attempt of South
Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries to bribe Mayor Paulino Emano of
Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental with P400 million, even while Malacañang
has asked it to go slow to avoid alienating foreign investors.
Sen. Pia Cayetano, committee
chairwoman, said she intends to expand the probe into alleged
environmental issues concerning Hanjin’s Subic project by
including the alleged Sen. Panfilo Lacson had twitted Malacañang
for warning foreign investors might pull out since “there are
other investors willing to come in while showing respect for our
laws.”
He urged Hanjin to simply comply
with the country’s legal requirements and follow appropriate
procedures.
“Koreans are very proper and
they follow laws, unless they are told they can violate laws so long
as they pay their way out. It is a shame because our own government
encourages them to violate our own laws, and it gives special
treatment to rich investors,” said Lacson.
Administration lawmakers said
they see no urgency for the Senate to conduct its own investigation
of Hanjin, saying they prefer that the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) or the Ombudsman look into the matter
since this directly falls under their jurisdiction.
Reps. Maria Milagros “Mitos”
Magsaysay of Zambales and Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City said
the senators should instead focus on pressing issues such as rice
and oil problems considering there are other government agencies
that can take care of the Hanjin controversy.
“Our good senators should focus
on more pressing issues such as the rice shortage and not politicize
the issue through their inquiry as what happened to their previous
inquiries,” Magsaysay said.
Hanjin Heavy Industries and
Construction Corp., meanwhile, assured the government that it will
continue its investment in Misamis Oriental despite the controversy
hounding its project, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
“Hanjin sent a message through
Trade Secretary Peter Favila saying it is inclined to stay despite
the issue [controversy],” Bunye said. “We are happy because
besides the DILG, the Misamis Oriental governor is also spearheading
an investigation. We expect a credible investigation.”
With an investigation initiated
by Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno, Bunye said he believes the
government could get to the bottom of the controversy.
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