Lopez ‘categorically, vehemently’ denies bribe try
By Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:32:00 08/02/2008
Filed Under: Graft & Corruption, Judiciary (system of justice), Electricity Production & Distribution, Personalities
MANILA, Philippines—Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) chairman and chief executive Manuel Lopez on Friday “categorically and vehemently” denied involvement in the bribery attempt alleged by Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr.
Lopez said he had not sent businessman Francis de Borja to Sabio with P10 million to convince the justice to inhibit himself from a case that Meralco had filed to prevent a takeover by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
Lopez said Sabio’s claim that he was waiting in De Borja’s car when the purported P10-million bribe was offered on July 1 was impossible because he was not even in the Philippines at the time.
He said at a press conference: “I know Francis de Borja, but I have not authorized him or anybody [else] to make representations for any matter that involves cases of Meralco and the Lopez family. We have retainers and lawyers to handle the legal matters. Further, Francis is not a lawyer, nor is he connected with Meralco.”
He added, “More importantly, the Lopez family is not in the business of bribing in the pursuit of businesses or to win cases in court. You can verify that Meralco and the Lopez family have suffered setbacks, legal or otherwise, for the past years, such as the ‘Wowowee’ case, among others.”
In the case that involved the “Wowowee” noontime TV show of the Lopez group’s ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., as many as 71 persons died and more than 500 others were injured in a stampede to gain entrance to the PhilSports arena in Pasig City for the show’s first anniversary presentation on Feb. 4, 2006.
Impossible
Lopez showed reporters a boarding pass for flight PR 114 of Philippine Airlines (PAL) bound for San Francisco, California, which left Manila in the evening of June 27. He said he left San Francisco for Manila on board PAL PR 105 flight in the evening of July 11, San Francisco time.
“I left on June 27 and I got back on July 13,” he said. “On July 1, I was with my medical doctors in the United States for my checkup.” He said his wife Marites was with him on the trip.
Lopez added that even if he were in the Philippines when De Borja met with Sabio on July 1, he would not be waiting for De Borja in a parked car. “I do not have the habit of waiting in the car for anybody, except for my wife,” he said. “The allegation is malicious and a pure fabrication.”
When asked about his relationship with De Borja, Lopez said: “We are friends, but we are more social friends than anything. Actually, it’s my wife and his wife who are much closer. They are together in a religious organization called Martha’s Vineyard.”
Lopez also said he had never had any business dealing with De Borja and had not spoken with him recently.
He did not deny knowing De Borja since their high school days at the Ateneo de Manila University but said there were no close ties between them then and at present.
No Meralco connection
“I repeat, Francis is a friend, but he is not in any way connected with any of the family businesses, especially that of Meralco,” Lopez said. “Clearly, the matter is between Francis and Justice Sabio. It is lamentable that my name was dragged into this.”
Lopez said he had no idea why De Borja met with Sabio on July 1. “Maybe he feels for what has been happening to my family,” he said. “You have to ask him that question. I cannot guess why he spoke to the justice.”
He said he felt no urgent need to speak with De Borja at this time, even just to know what De Borja’s motives were.
“Maybe one day we’ll bump into each other again because we have many mutual friends,” he said. “And so, yes, one day, maybe I’ll find out from him the entire story. Maybe one of these days, but I don’t see the urgency right now.”
On Sabio’s being afraid of what might happen to him because of his revelations about the case involving Meralco, Lopez said: “This is not the style of the Lopez family. I want to assure Justice Sabio that the Lopez family has never been involved in any form of violence whatsoever. He should not worry about the fears that he expressed this morning at his press conference.”
Lopez also said he did not plan on making any legal moves against Sabio. “I don’t see any reason right now, unless advised by our lawyers,” he said. “In the meantime, I’ll just leave it at that.” With editing by INQUIRER.net
|
