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Although
they have the biggest stake in Al-Almanah Bank, the
country’s only bank that practices the Muslim’s sharia
law of not charging interest for loans extended,
Development Bank of the Philippines and Social Security
System have only one representative each in the board.
As
everybody knows, government has been trying to sell the
bank for the longest time but the Muslim-dominated board
seems to think that rehabilitation is the way to go even
if the bank is in the red for P1 billion and counting.
There is
talk, of course, of interested buyers from the Middle
East willing to pay government’s price, which is an
initial tranche of P40 million. In exchange, government
will write off the bank’s entire debt. Oh yes, the buyer
will have to put in an investment of at least P1 billion
to restart the bank, which has a full complement of
people with practically nothing to do.
Did
you know 1: The talk is boxing champion Manny
Pacquiao holds the bingo franchise in Henry Sy’s Mall of
Asia, which grosses about P1 million a week.
The
bingo franchise was given by Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corp., which suffered a setback during the last
day of Congress when the bill extending Pagcor’s
franchise was questioned because of the new provision
for online gaming.
Did
you know 2: That 5,000 square-meter empty lot in
Dasmarinas Village at the corner of Pasay Road owned by
the family of Rolly Rojas has finally been sold. The
buyer is International Container Terminal Services Inc.
chief executive officer Enrique Razon Jr.
Did
you know 3: Among the 10 leading causes of death in
the country, the only one where females are far ahead of
men is no. 9, diabetes mellitus.
Fatal
accidents, which ranks no. 5, is basically a male thing,
with men four times more likely to die than women.
Here’s a
disturbing case of robbery filed only last week against
three Ilusorio sisters, all daughters of the late and
very wealthy Potenciano Ilusorio.
Based on
records of the Makati regional trial court dated
February 6, 2006, Erlinda Ilusorio Bildner, Marietta
Ilusorio and Kelly Ilusorio Raab are being accused by
second assistant city prosecutor Edgardo Hirang of
“willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously destroy(ing) and
force(ing) to open the office of Manuel Andal located
the second floor of the Pacific Star Building.”
Involved
were cash and personal properties valued at P56,975
belonging to Andal, who is connected with Philippine
Communications Satellite Corp.
As
everybody knows, the Ilusorio sisters have a still
unresolved but very public fight with their mother,
Erlinda Kalaw Ilusorio, over the Philcomsat shares of
Potenciano Ilusorio. |
