Hanjin bribe-extort case closed — Malacañang

05/08/2008

Malacañang yesterday said it now considers the alleged bribery case involving South Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Co. Ltd. (Hanjin) in Misamis Oriental a closed case.

According to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has not obtained any evidence of bribery or extortion for the project.

He said even Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano did not mention any offer of bribe from Hanjin in his submitted affidavit to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

With the clarification made by Emano, Hanjin can now proceed with its shipyard project in the province, the Palace official added.

“The important thing is — there is no more finger pointing about who did what... the mayors themselves already issued the order lifting their order to suspend the issuance of the permit, meaning Hanjin could pursue its investment... Yes, the issue is cleared,” Ermita said.

He stressed that the potential crisis in the issue also was averted because of the efforts of President Arroyo to go into the roots of the incident, starting with her conversation with Emano and her order for the DILG, through the PNP, to conduct an investigation on matter.

“Well, we can see that President Arroyo is really hands-on... So indeed the President

had averted something that could have been messy if this was not looked into immediately so there’s an immediate action by the President,” Ermita said.

Due to the incident, he maintained that there is no more need for the Senate to probe the incident.

“I think there is no more need for it because there is an affidavit already. The mayor said the allegations were not true, they were just misquoted,” Ermita said.

Emano, in his affidavit, said there was no bribe offer on him nor was there any extortion attempt on Hanjin in exchange for the environmental clearance certificate on its shipyard facility in Misamis Oriental.

The Palace, however, denied it influenced the probe of the PNP to come out with a closure of the controversy.

Aside from Emano, Villanueva Mayor Juliet Uy also of Misamis Oriental was also dragged into the controversy as they were earlier accused of trying to extort from Hanjin in exchange for the operation permit of the company despite lack of requirements.

The two local executives, however, earlier accused Hanjin of offering a bribe to them.

Sherwin C. Olaes

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