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A
PROMINENT businessman linked by witnesses to the
broadband deal with a Chinese company on Wednesday
disputed claims that he was behind the removal of former
socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri from the
National Economic and Development Authority (Neda),
including their alleged shouting match, as well as his
alleged involvement in the broadband deal.
Enrique
Razon Jr. emphasized that he is a critic of Neri, but is
not an enemy. Razon explained that he is critical of
Neri’s opinion only as far as port liberalization in
concerned.
Razon
said that because of the issue, Neri has an ax to grind
against him, and is going as far as to drag his name
into the Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Co.
Ltd. (ZTE) scandal.
“The ZTE
scandal is an issue involving people who have no
business involving themselves in government contracts,
such as government officials and children of government
officials. I would never get involved in such an
unseemly affair.”
He
added: “The Speaker [Jose de Venecia Jr.] is a friend of
mine, and we have had many animated conversations, but I
have never berated him. At the very least, the Speaker
should have the decency to clarify the statements made
by his son.”
“[Jose]
Joey de Venecia [III] seems to be enjoying his newfound
fame, and is extending himself into matters he has no
knowledge of whatsoever,” Razon added.
He also
disputed allegations that he was responsible for the
ouster of Neri from Neda, saying, “I had absolutely
nothing to do with that. I am only a businessman.”
Neri was
earlier transferred from the Neda to the Commission on
Higher Education, which he now heads.
Razon
surmised that Neri probably said that in reaction to
International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s (Ictsi)
objection to Neri’s meddling in port policies. It was
for this reason that Razon approached Neri during a
dinner almost two years ago for the president of
Equatorial Guinea,
hoping to explain the situation of Ictsi.
However,
Razon claims that Neri was dismissive. Although there
was an exchange of words, Razon categorically states:
“There was no shouting of invectives whatsoever or even
raising of voices. It was a function for a head of
state, and proper decorum was called for. And the
president of
Equatorial Guinea
was standing close by when this happened. Neri has blown
it out of all proportions.”
Razon
added that since it was a state dinner, there couldn’t
have been household help around, as claimed by de
Venecia III. That was his only encounter with Neri,
Razon said.
“In his
desire to get back at me for rejecting his opinion, he
even dragged me into an issue that I have nothing to do
with,” Razon continued.
“Ictsi
is all for the liberalization of the Philippine ports
sector, but it has to be on a level playing field for
all the players. Moreover, commitments have to be
honored,” he explained.
Ictsi
operates the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT),
the country’s sole dedicated container terminal. By
virtue of this MICT contract, Ictsi remits fixed and
variable fees remitted to the Philippine Ports Authority
(PPA), making Ictsi the single largest contributor to
the coffers of the PPA in any given year. The contract
also states that the MICT and the Manila South Harbor
are the only handlers of international containerized
cargo. Ictsi has spent hundreds of millions of dollars
to modernize the MICT, and today the MICT is regarded as
one of the best in Asia.
Razon
also explained: “In a year, I spend almost 200 days out
of the country. How could I possibly find time to
participate in these political issues? We operate in 10
countries aside from the Philippines, so how can my
being involved in politics help me in these 10
countries? It just doesn’t make sense.”
Razon is
the chairman of Ictsi, which operates ports in the
Philippines, Brazil, Poland, Madagascar, Japan,
Indonesia, Syria, Ecuador, Colombia and Georgia. |
