Estrada: I’ll Do Anything for PAL

The Manila Times S

Sunday, December 6, 1998

By Johnna R. Villaviray

Reporter

President Estrada yesterday pledged to do everything, short of helping tycoon Lucio Tan wriggle out a multi-billion-peso tax evasion suit, to help Philippine Airlines in the air.

“Gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya para di matigil ang operasyon ng PAL [I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that PAL keeps flying],” Estrada said in his weekly radio program “Jeep ni Erap” over commercial station DZMM.

He noted that the country’s economic recovery and national pride would be placed in jeopardy if PAL closes anew like what happened two months ago.

“Kung biglaang hihinto at magsasara, ang kapakanan ng bansa ang nakataya [National interest is at stake if PAL closes],” the President explained.

Deadlock

The talk on Cathay’s investment package for PAL were stalled early this week over a deadlock on certain technical issues.

Estrada sought an appointment with Tan and Cathay management in an attempt to receive the negotiations.

At the same time, Estrada dismissed fears that Tan might already be seeking favors from the government in exchange for a softer stand on the negotiations with Cathay.

“Iba namang issue ‘yon e. Pagdating sa kaso ay di tayo pwedeng makialam diyan [These are two different issues. We can’t meddle in the court case],” the Chief Executive maintained.

He invoked the separation of the executive and legislative branches of government, reiterating that it is not within his power as President to make deals with individuals on behalf of the judiciary.

Despite his pledge to keep his hands off Tan’s tax evasion suit, the President nonetheless cited the businessman for his “continued service” to the Filipino people despite financial losses.

In a separate interview, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora downplayed the impact of the breakdown of talks on the entire negotiation process between Tan and Cathay executives.

“Syempre hindi mo naman maaasahan na itong mga negosasyon ay madali lang. Siguro ang dapat nating gawin ay hintayin kung ano ang final outcome,” he said. (We can’t expect these talks to be easy. We should wait for how it turns out in the end.)